In yet another attempt to make things and life better for conservancy workers, the Coimbatore Corporation in all likelihood will provide them safety gear.
A proposal to this effect was mooted and accepted the Corporation's Health Committee meeting, held here on Friday.
The civic body would provide mask, a pair of gloves, cap and jacket to 2,867 workers.
The cost worked out to Rs. 30 lakh, said S. Thamarai Selvi, Chairman, Health Committee. This was only the first step.
The Corporation would provide them boots later. She also said that the beneficiaries included workers on contract.
The Corporation had been recently conducting health camps in each of the five zones for the workers in association with a private hospital.
A couple of years ago, the civic body, again in association with a clinic, ran a de-addiction clinic to help the workers kick alcoholism.
The Health Committee also decided to deploy 50 persons in 100 wards to conduct mass cleaning campaign. Thirty of the 50 workers would be engaged on contract. The rest 20, as suggested by the Commissioner, T.K. Ponnusamy, would be drawn from the five zones at four a zone, Ms. Selvi.
The team of 50 would take a ward a day and engage in operations that otherwise did not form part of the day-to-day cleaning operations. They would remove bushes, clear piled-up garbage, clean drains and also remove encroachments.
The operations would continue throughout the year. The team would return to a ward after 100 days – after completing the work in all the other wards.
The Corporation was yet to decide on the date of commencement of the operations. Mayor S.M. Velusamy is expected to announce the date.
Swine flue cases
The deliberations at the Committee meeting included efforts needed to overcome shortage of conservancy workers, need for screening camp to detect swine flu cases, if any, and manpower to oversee mosquito control operations, especially in added areas.
