No regular safai karmacharis in State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 18 2014: Absence of regular safai karmacharis in all departments and corporations of the State has taken aback Lata Om Prakash Mahato, member of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis who held a series of meetings with officials of different departments of the State and members of locals bodies at Old Secretariat Conference Hall today.

Briefing media persons after the meeting, Lata Om Prakash Mahato said that all departments of the State need to appoint regular safai karmacharis in order to maintain cleanliness.

Appointment of regular karamcharis assumes significance in the backdrop of the Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat Mission.

Lata Om Prakash Mahato, member of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis Pix - DIPR

The Manipur Tribal Development Corporation is the channelising agency for running safai karmacharis in the State.

In Manipur, safai karmacharis are appointed through NGOs and SHGs on daily wage basis.

Pointing out that many safai karmacharis are totally unaware about the various welfare schemes and benefits, she also said that regular karmacharis could apply for a loan ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 25 lakh for establishing business.

Facilities like education loan of upto Rs 10 lakh for studies in India and Rs 25 lakh for studies abroad are applicable for the safai karmacharis.

Other schemes like community toilet construction are also available for them.

She also expressed her desire to hold an awareness campaign in collaboration with the State Govt for the safai karmacharis in the near futures to sensitise them on various schemes.

The Commission member also conveyed her wish to highlight the matter to the State Chief Minister.

During the meeting, Lata Om Prakash Mahato was told by the officials that there are around 190 safai karmacharis engaged in cleaning work in the Imphal Municipal Corporation.

There is no single regular safai karmacharis.

They are paid a monthly remuneration of Rs 3060 .

To her query why safai karmacharis are not appointed on regular basis, an officer responded that no regular safai karmacharis is appointed because the State Government has imposed a ban on recruitment.

The officer also further said that there were more than 200 safai karmacharis in the past few years.

The number of safai karmacharis shrunk after the Imphal Municipal Council was upgraded to a Corporation as the State Government has limited income for appointment of new employees.

The NCSK member urged the officials to regularise the service of safai karmacharis who have worked as muster-roll employees for the last 12 years.

Prakash Mahato was also told that medical, education and housing facilities are not availed to the safai karmacharis in the State.

She also instructed the State officers to provide medical facilities to the safai karmacharis twice a month and also asked them to identify meritorious children of safai karmacharis and provide them financial assistance to support their education.

She also asked the officials to implement the minimum wages implemented all over the country as fixed by the Central Government.

She also asked the State officials to submit a record of the safai karmacharis' EPF status to ascertain whether the EPF has been properly maintained or not.

Officials of the Social Welfare Dept and health officers of various districts present in the meeting also told Prakash Mahato that there are no regular safai karmacharis in the department and district hospitals.

When told by the officials of the Social Welfare Dept that their main concern is on implementation of ICDS scheme for women and children, availing pension benefits and scholarships to disabled students, the NCSK member asked the officials to submit a record of scholarships availed to the disabled students by the department during the last two years.

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis was constituted on August 12, 1994 under the provision of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993 to promote and safeguard the interests and rights of safai karamcharis.