Sewer cleaning programme launched

New Delhi: Union minister for social justice and empowerment, Thawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday launched a pan-India workshops on ‘Prev-ention of hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks at East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) headquarters.

Addressing the workshop, Mr Gehlot said that the Centre enforced ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act’ in December 2013.

Mr Gehlot asked the local bodies to ensure that machines are used instead of people as much as possible.

“In cases where people are employed, states were to ensure that hazardous cleaning of sewage and septic tanks are not done until they are provided with all kinds of protective gear,” said Mr Gehlot.

The EDMC mayor, Bipin Bihari Singh said that the East Corporation is taking all necessary measures for the safeguards of their ‘Safai Karamcharis’ (sanitation workers).

“Fortunately, till now no death has been reported in EDMC jurisdiction during cleaning of sewer and septic tanks but such training program and workshops are important for prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewers and tanks,” Mr Singh added.

Key areas to be covered in these workshop will be the manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning in India, the safety measures and protection involved and constitutional provisions for the welfare of manual scavengers.

The various schemes related to rehabilitation of manual scavengers including loan schemes will also be explained.

Every year, over 100 dea-ths are reported during the cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.

The deaths caused due to illness and disease could be even more and are normally not reported.

Worki-ng at sewer or septic tank without proper protective gear and cleaning devices is hazardous cleaning.

On this occasion, secretary of the Union ministry of Social Justice and Emp-owerment, Nilam Sawhn-ey and other senior official were also present.