Khanauri (Sangrur), November 12:- Hardeep Singh Gill, Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, today held a review meeting at the Nagar Panchayat Khanauri with sanitation workers, sewer workers, representatives of the Safai Karamchari Union and local administrative officials. He reviewed the working conditions of employees, their service-related demands and welfare schemes. He assured them that the Commission would pursue, on a priority basis, matters requiring consideration at the state and Central Government levels.
During the meeting, Hardeep Singh Gill reviewed the directions of the Supreme Court, the 2013 law concerning the prevention of manual scavenging and the initiatives being undertaken under the Central Government's 'NAMASTE' scheme. He directed officials to ensure the use of machines for sewer cleaning and said that no employee should be forced to enter a sewer or manually clean human waste. He stated that if any violation of safety regulations came to light, action would be taken against those responsible in accordance with the law.
Officials informed him that sanitation workers had already been provided special safety training under the 'NAMASTE' scheme. The Vice-Chairman emphasised ensuring the availability and proper use of necessary safety equipment during work. The meeting also discussed the timely settlement of compensation cases relating to accidents during sewer cleaning and the rehabilitation of affected families in accordance with the applicable guidelines.
Sanitation workers informed the meeting that the Nagar Panchayat was paying their salaries on time every month. Discussions were also held on maintaining transparent records of Provident Fund (PF) deductions and deposits, providing passbooks to employees and updating records on time. In addition, difficulties faced by workers in obtaining loans and pending cases concerning compassionate appointments for family members of deceased employees were brought to the Vice-Chairman's attention. The concerned officials assured their cooperation in providing the required documents and copies of resolutions.
Union representatives also demanded the regularisation of temporary employees who had been serving for the past 11 to 12 years. It was informed during the meeting that a resolution regarding the regularisation of employees working on a contractual basis had already been passed and forwarded. A special meeting had been scheduled by the Nagar Panchayat to consider the resolution concerning outsourced employees. The Vice-Chairman directed the concerned officials to complete the necessary formalities promptly and forward the cases to the competent authority.
Hardeep Singh Gill also sought information from Nagar Panchayat officials about development works in Khanauri, sewerage arrangements, drinking water supply, property tax collection and cleanliness in the town. He directed them to complete the files relating to applications from eligible sanitation workers under the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' at the earliest and ensure that the benefits of Central and state government welfare schemes reach all eligible employees.
On the occasion, representatives of the Safai Karamchari Union and local representatives honoured Hardeep Singh Gill by presenting him with a portrait of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Union leaders thanked the Vice-Chairman for listening to the problems of sanitation workers.
Among those present were Moonak SDM Pragati Rani, Nagar Panchayat officials, councillors, representatives of the local administration, Inspector-in-Charge Hardeep Singh, Ranjha Bakshi, union leaders who had arrived from Patran and a large number of sanitation workers.
