Shillong, Dec 1: The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis has recommended to the state government to address the problems face by sanitation workers and take welfare measures including accommodation facilities.
This was recommended by the Commission member, Jagadish Hiremani who visited Meghalaya on Friday to get first hand information on the implementation of various schemes for safai karamcharis.
Hiremani told reporters that the government should increase the salary of safaiwalas (sanitation workers) from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,500 and reserve five percent seat in educational institutions for their children, while also urging the state government to release their salary regularly.
Around 400 safaiwalas are being engaged by the Shillong Municipal Board out of which, 98 are permanent workers.
Hiremani said that the state government should implement 5 per cent seat reservations for dependents of safaiwalas in government as well as private educational institutions and ensure that medical checkup should be conducted atleast three times in a month, besides providing accommodation facilities.
Hiremani who took stock of the problems faced by safaiwalas at Nongpoh in Ri-Bhoi district before arriving in Shillong, said that he would visit Jowai and Khliehriat in West and East Jaiñtia Hills districts.
The Commission also asked the state government to prepare a list of safaiwalas and create awareness on schemes for their benefits being provided by the Central government.
