: A survey conducted by the Health Department at camps housing migrant workers in the city and its suburbs has found several people with symptoms of leprosy, filariasis, malaria and fever. One person with symptoms of filariasis was found in a camp at Kanyakulangara and three persons with health indications of leprosy were found in camps at Puthenthope and Poovar.
The inspection also found 30 persons with symptoms of malaria and more than 700 persons with fever. While workers having symptoms of filariasis and malaria were kept under observation, those with malaria and fever were sent to health centres for testing of blood samples, said an official who was part of the inspection team..
The department served notice on 119 owners of camps, including 11 in the city, for putting up the workers in unhygienic conditions. “We have given them two days time to remove garbage and filth from the premises of the camps and to improve facilities. Otherwise, all the places will be permanently shut down,” the official said.
The inspection found that most of the migrant labourers were staying in extremely unhygienic conditions. In certain cases even open defecation was also noticed. “Even those put up in concrete houses were staying in a deplorable condition. They were cramped into tiny rooms. In certain places even toilets, with no doors, are located next to kitchen. Garbage and other waste materials are seen piled up in the backyard of most camps,” said another official. A majority of the workers take bath in the open as no facilities are provided. There is complete absence of provision to supply clean drinking water to the labourers,” he said.
Director of Health Department N. Sridhar told reporters after inspecting a camp at Thirumala that as the workers had come from places known for endemic diseases, precautions have to be taken to make sure they do not spread any disease among the local population.
The department has decided to conduct regular checks, he said adding that the Labour Department had been directed to furnish a list of workers with details of their place of settlement.
List of workers with details of settlements being prepared
Inspections to be conducted regularly
