Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman assures that Rs. 30 lakh will be paid to families as compensation

Mysore/Mysuru: Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman M. Shivanna has said that he will ask the State Government to release compensation of Rs. 30 lakh each to the families of three Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) workers who succumbed to COVID-19.

He was speaking to reporters after meeting Mayor Rukmini Madegowda, MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag and other officers regarding the progress of COVID relief to frontline MCC workers. “While only permanent workers will get Rs. 30 lakh as compensation in case of death as they have been considered as COVID Warriors, contractual staff would only get Rs. 5 lakh. I have asked the officials to send me a report so that I can take this up with the State Government and strive to get Rs. 30 lakh each for all workers irrespective of their job stature,” he said.

All officials have been directed to sanction leave to Pourakarmikas and other workers in case they fall ill and they must not be forced to discharge their duties at any cost, he said. The MCC must provide PPE kits for all sanitation workers, labourers at cemetery and crematoriums and regularly conduct tests for their safety.

Shivanna sought reports from MCC on the condition of Pourakarmikas who have been infected, recovered and who are being treated and quarantined and also the facilities provided for them. He asked officials to furnish the list of wages paid to them, facilities like safety gears, ESI etc.

“We want to ensure that these Pourakarmikas do not miss any facilities and the local administrations will ensure that they will not leave out of their schemes,” said Shivanna. He regretted that most of the Pourakarmikas do not wear PPE kits and also protection-like masks and boots.

Shivanna said that the condition of the Pourakarmikas whether they were engaged in UGD cleaning or other forms of labour, was pathetic and he will hold discussions with Slum Board Development authorities and Karnataka Housing Board personnel to ensure that they get decent accommodation facilities.

Pointing out that a medical test must be conducted on all cleaning staff and Pourakarmikas once in a fortnight in order to keep a tab on their health, he said that the District Administration should take measures for treatment of those Pourakarmikas who test positive for the Coronavirus. Also, the authorities must consider reducing working hours for Pourakarmikas in the wake of surge in COVID cases, he added.

He said that he would submit a proposal to the Government for a survey to get the exact number of Safai Karmacharis, including manual scavengers and abolish contractual system, making all of them permanent employees. 

Shivanna said that MCC has launched a house-to-house health check-up survey for early detection and treatment of COVID patients. The purpose of this drive was to detect the virus in citizens and provide them treatment on time. 

Early detection of virus helps in early starting of treatment and high recovery rate, he said and added that many do not show up any symptoms despite carrying the virus. Along with MCC personnel, ASHA workers are involved in the task.