The Chennai Corporation has intensified the drive to control vector-borne diseases such as dengue by roping in casual labourers. Owing to shortage of workers in the Public Health Department, the civic body has been unable to carry out mosquito control operations for the past few months.
According to officials, as many as 153 labourers will carry out vector control operations in Tiruvottiyur, 129 in Madhavaram, 125 in Tondiarpet, 85 in Royapuram, 80 in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, 122 in Anna Nagar, 114 in Teynampet and 120 workers in Kodambakkam.
Each worker will cover 80 houses every day, screening overhead tanks, wells and other mosquito breeding sources.
The workers will visit the neighbourhoods that have reported malaria, dengue and other vector-borne diseases to carry out source reduction operations.
The zones have reported huge vacancies in the Public Health Department for the past few years.
But the vacancies have not been filled by the civic body.
Corporation officials at the field level said the casual labourers lack motivation to work in most of the zones.
“There is a need for more awareness among the casual labourers. They need orientation courses to understand their role and responsibility,” said an official.
The Chennai Collectorate has fixed the wages at ₹320 per day. The workers will get ₹9,920 as salary per month. “Fogging operations are expected to improve. Source reduction operations will improve. Mosquito density will reduce,” said an official.
Clearing vacant plots
The Corporation has already started clearing waste in vacant plots in various parts of the city.
Most of the vacant plots have become sources of mosquito breeding.
Residents are requested to report such mosquito breeding sources in their neighbourhood on corporation helpline 1913, said a Corporation official.
