A meeting, chaired by Anjana Panwar, Vice-Chairperson of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, was held today with key officials including the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Director of Social Welfare, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Secretary of Housing Board, Joint Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Joint Director of GMCH-32, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Medical Superintendent of GMSH-16, LDM of Punjab National Bank, Labour Inspector, State Liaison Officer of Higher Education, and representatives from various Safai Karamchari Associations and organisations across different departments and banks.
The Commission discussed various matters related to Safai Karamcharis, including their social, economic, and educational development, statutory benefits such as provident fund EPF/ESI deductions, salary, and the implementation of schemes/programs for Safai Karamcharis, as well as the Manual Scavengers Act, 2013, at the UT Guest House in Chandigarh.
The Commissioner of MC provided an overview, mentioning that there are a total of 2329 Safai Karamcharis working in the Corporation, including 400 regular, 281 daily wagers, and 1648 working on an outsourcing basis. It was highlighted that outsource and contractual employees are paid as per DC rates, and the Corporation ensures their timely salary and statutory benefits, including PF/ESI, safety kits, gur, oil, and equipment for both regular and outsourced Safai Karamcharis. Regular health checkups for Safai Karamcharis are conducted at four health centres at different intervals.
The Director of Social Welfare briefed the members about the welfare schemes run by the Chandigarh SC BC Minority & Financial Development Corporation for Safai Karamcharis and their dependents. Details of awareness camps organized during the year 2022-2023 for Safai Karamcharis at different places in UT, Chandigarh, were also shared. The Director informed that 75 students belonging to Safai Karamcharis have been sanctioned Cash Awards for their good performance at 10th and 12th levels.
The State Liaison Officer of Higher Education stated that they are implementing various scholarship schemes but clarified that no exclusive scheme for children of Safai Karamcharis is being implemented.
The Vice-Chairperson provided recommendations and suggestions, including ensuring timely payment of salary/wages to regular, contractual, and outsourced employees, and ensuring minimum wages for contractual/outsourced employees.
She emphasised maintaining good health for all Safai Karamcharis through regular health checkup camps, health insurance, health cards, and providing basic safety equipment.
She also stressed the importance of providing good education facilities for the children of Safai Karamcharis and emphasised compliance with the Manual Scavenger Act, directing to avoid manual cleaning of sewer/septic tanks.
The Vice-Chairperson recommended organising camps at different colonies for Safai Karamcharis to raise awareness of different schemes and programs. Additionally, she suggested conducting timely DPC for the promotion of Safai Karamcharis, allocating nearest workstations to women Safai Karamcharis, and conducting monthly meetings with Safai Karamcharis to address their issues promptly.