Imphal: Chairman, National Commission of Safai Karamcharis, M.Venkatesan, Saturday held a meeting with chief secretary, additional chief secretary, administrative secretary (Home/ Forest & Envt./ TA & Hills/ Fisheries/ Transport/ Hort. & SC/GAD/ Health & FW/ MAHUD/ Labour & Emp./ Social Welfare/ Vety. & AM/ MA- OBC & SC/ Water Resource/ MI/ Relief & DM), Government of Manipur, director (MAHUD), director (Vety. & AM), Municipal Commissioner, Imphal Municipal Corporation and N. Nimbus Singh, President (Imphal Municipal Employees Union).
The meeting which reviewed the implementation of ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’, was held at the Conference Hall of Manipur Secretariat (south block).
During the meeting, M Venkatesan gave great importance on how to improve and develop the economic condition and health of the workers. National Commission for Safai Karamacharis gave more emphasis on street scavengers in other states. As the state of Manipur has no street scavengers, street sweepers are included in the list.
The Chairman wanted to know whether they are given wages or salaries as prescribed by the government. He was informed that, in Manipur context, sweepers are categorized in two groups: regular employees and daily wages/ muster roll. Regular employees are drawing monthly salaries like any other government employees whereas daily wages/ muster roll employees are given minimum wages as prescribed by the government.
They also enjoy benefits of welfare schemes such as CMHT provided they fulfilled the eligibility criteria along the paid holidays during festivals. At present, there are 250 employees working under Imphal Municipal Corporation and approximately 400 employees working under 10 NGOs.
Later in the evening, DC, Imphal West organised an interaction programme for safai kamacharis with M Venkatesan at the lawn of DC Office Complex Lamphelpat.
He encouraged the workers to air any problems faced by them related to their works. The Chairman informed that the National Commission for Safai Karamachari was established solely for them. He stressed the importance of services provided by them in human day to day life.
The interaction programme was also attended by Municipal Commissioner, Imphal Municipal Corporation, CEO, Imphal West Zilla Parisad, All SDMs of Imphal West District, All BDOs of Imphal West District, All EOs of Municipalities of Imphal West District, Chief Medical Officer, Imphal West District, District Level Officer(Labour Dept), District Social Welfare Officer, Imphal West District and all Safai Karamcharis Employees and their Association Leaders of Imphal West District.
