Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday inaugurated the Sanitation Workers’ Development Scheme to protect the welfare of conservancy workers in the State.
He launched a mobile application to help identify and collect census data of sanitation workers as part of the scheme. He also distributed protective gear to five beneficiaries during the event held at Arignar Anna Complex, the Madurai Corporation’s headquarters.
To be implemented on a pilot basis in select local bodies, including Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Zone 6 of the Greater Chennai Corporation; Pudukottai and Pollachi Municipalities; and Cheranmahadevi Town Panchayat, the scheme aims to improve the welfare of the conservancy workers who face many socio-economic challenges in their workplace every day.
Steps will be taken to ensure that the workers benefit from various government welfare schemes; provide them the necessary training to gain skills essential in mechanised cleanliness drives; and ensure that they get pension and insurance, and their children have access to proper education, among other measures, a press note said. The sanitation workers will also be encouraged to start alternative businesses and be supported in their endeavour through loans.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled the statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at Perungudi junction in the presence of Thol. Thirumavalavan, founder of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi on December 9, 2022 | Photo Credit: MOORTHY G
The scheme will benefit not only the 53,301 sanitation workers, including 18,859 permanent employees and 34,442 temporary contract workers in the urban local bodies, but also all the informal workers engaged in conservancy operations in the private sector.
With the support of the Urban Management Centre, Ahmedabad, the local bodies propose to implement the scheme effectively, concentrating especially on strengthening waste and faecal sludge management.
Ministers P. Moorthy, P.T.R. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, I. Periyasamy, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, K.R. Periyakaruppan, Anitha R. Radhakrishnan and R.S. Raja Kannappan; MP S. Venkatesan; MLAs M. Boominathan and G. Thalapathi; Collector S. Aneesh Sekhar; Mayor Indirani Ponvasanth; Corporation Commissioner Simranjeet Singh Kahlon; Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary Shiv Das Meena; and Municipal Administration Director P. Ponniah were present at the event.
Ambedkar statue unveiled
Later, the Chief Minister unveiled a statue of B.R. Ambedkar at the Perungudi Junction, in the presence of VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan. They also paid floral tributes to the late leader’s portrait.
Mr. Thirumavalavan raised slogans against Sanatana Dharma, inequality in the society as well as to protect democracy and the Indian Constitution.
Published - December 09, 2022 01:17 pm IST
