SHILLONG, DEC 1: The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) today asked the state government to enhance the salary of safaiwalas (sanitation workers) to Rs 10,500 and reserve 5% seat in educational institutions to their dependents.“I am recommending to the state government to increase the salary of the safaiwalas from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10, 500,” NCSK member Jagadish Hiremani told reporters at the sidelines of a meeting with government officials here on Friday.
The member during the meeting was also informed that there are around 400 safaiwalas engaged under the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) alone out of which only 98 are permanent workers of the board.
Hiremani, who was on his first visit to the state, said that he would also urge the state government to disburse the salary of the safaiwalas on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, the Commission member also asked the government to implement 5 per cent seat reservations for dependents of the safaiwalas for admission in both government and private schools and colleges in the state.
“They are also entitled for at least three-time medical check ups and housing facility,” he said.
Hiremani, who arrived in the state capital after visiting Nongpoh in Ri Bhoi District to take stock of the problems faced by the safaiwalas, will also hold similar meetings at Jowai and Khliehriat in West and East Jaintia Hills.
He will be leaving for New Delhi on Monday next.
Referring to Supreme Court’s order on manual scavenging, he said though manual scavenging has been banned but it is still going on in the different parts of the country.
“However, I am told that there has no death reported from the state due to manual scavenging,” he said.
Hiremani also directed the state government to prepare a list of the safaiwalas and create awareness on the schemes provided by the Government of India so that they are benefited.
The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis was constituted under the provision of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993 to promote and safeguard the interests and rights of Safai Karamcharis.
The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis seeks to study, evaluate and monitor the implementation of various schemes for Safai Karamcharis as an autonomous organisation and also to provide redressal of their grievances.
Its duty is to recommend to the Government specific programmes of action towards elimination of inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities for Safai Karamcharis under a time-bound action plan besides others.
By Our Reporter
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