Chairman, National Safai Karamchari Commission Manhar Valjibhai Zala, who is on six-day long tour to Himachal Pradesh, held meeting with the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Director General of Police and heads of various departments here today to discuss and monitor the implementation of schemes and programmes being implemented for Safai Karamchari in the state. He also reviewed the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.He directed the state government to fill up vacant posts of the Safai Karamchari in all the Municipalities of the state andimplement the Prohibition of Employment and Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act strictly. He said that the pending cases of employment to Safai Karamcharis on compassionate ground should be cleared on priority.The Chairman directed that sucking and jetting machines should be made available in all Municipal Committees of the state to clean the septic tanks and ensure door-to-door garbage collection throughout the state.He said that the state government should give special priority to constitute state level Safai Karamchari commission to ensure better implementation of the Act. He also advised to constitute state and district level monitoring committees in the state and organise their meetings regularly.
Chief Secretary B.K Agarwal apprised that state government is implementing various programmes for ensuring welfare of the Safai Karmacharis. He said that manual scavenging is not being done in the state and safety gadgets like gum boots, gloves and facemasks are being provided to them.He directed the Labour department to check the irregularities, if any, on the part of outsource agencies regarding wages and other financial benefits to the Safai Karmacharis and also ensure that they get pay slips. He also directed to provide good quality bags for carrying the liquid waste to address the health issues.B.K Agarwal asked the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Corporation to start awareness camps about the welfare schemes being implemented for the Safai Karmacharis. He also directed the Health department to organise health check-up camps twice a year for the Safai Karmacharis.The Chief Secretary apprised the Commission that the state government has decided to develop Krishnangar locality of the Shimla town under Smart City Mission and the houses in bad condition of the Safai Karmacharis in different parts of the state would also be repaired.Principal Private Secretary of the Commission Mahender Prasad, Consultant Pooran Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Nisha Singh, DGP S.R Mardi, Principal Secretary, Urban development Prabodh Saxena, Director, Rural Development Rakesh Kanwar, Commissioner, MC Shimla Pankaj Roy, Director, Health Dr. A.K Gupta and other senior officers of various departments attended the meeting.