Residents doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are seeking “more responsible” day sweeping on campus.
The doctors are demanding that masks be provided to AIIMS support staff like security guards and cleaners who are constantly exposed to dust from the cleaning and traffic that gets accumulated from major roads around the institute. The group is also seeking the hospital administration’s help in bringing in more environment-friendly, mechanised and non-polluting cleaning.
City a gas chamber
In a letter to the hospital administration, the doctors noted, “As we all are quite aware, Delhi has turned into a gas chamber and we should take some measures to reduce pollution. But it is very painful to see that our safaiwallahs are adding more and more dust to already-choked campus with their brooms. The work is harming them too, as none of them ever wear any sort of mask to filter the dust and pollution caused by day sweeping,” noted Vijay Kumar of the AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA).
Keep a check
Dr. Kumar added, “We are aware of the fact that sweeping is done by a contractual agency but we have to have a check on the standards of procedures and protective measures for employees, which the agency is following or not.”
The doctors have said that not just people engaged in cleaning, even the “most vulnerable people” like security guards — who are constantly exposed to this pollution day after day — should be given masks by their agency.
“Our hospital and doctors are actively involved in the fight against pollution and have raised their voice for people’s right to clean air. Hence, we feel that we need to start this movement here at home,” said the doctors.
