The Samajik Samarasata Manch (SSM) has welcomed the Narendra Modi- government decision for extending the tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) by three years. SSM All India Convenor Shyam Prasad said that the Government of India has taken a historic decision.
He recalled that the previous government used to extend it’s term by one year and sometimes for six months, due to which the NCSK could not function effectively. He recalled that the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment has stated in the Lok Sabha on last December 2 that 43,797 manual scavengers have been identified, out of which more than 42,500 are from the Scheduled Castes category.
Shyam Prasad deplored that still sanual scavengers are considered untouchables among the untouchables because of their profession and they have been humiliated by all sections of society.
Even after forming the NCSK in 1993, he expressed concern that their issues have not been resolved yet and many precious lives were lost while cleaning sewer despite strict laws. Very recently, he said, four persons have died in Maharashtra (Solapur) on December 23, three in Gujarat (Ahmedabad) on Decenber 16, three in Madhya Pradesh (Singrauli) on September 24, one in Tamil Nadu (Chennai) on January 15 and and two in Tamil Nadu (Kanchipuram) on January 19.
Shyam Prasad said that the Commission has played an effective role in implementing Supreme Court direction for disbursal of Rs. 10 lakh to the 671 victims’ families so far. This payment is given to the victim’s family, whose Safai Karamchari, unfortunately, dies while working in the sewer.
He said that almost all the state governments have given the cleaning work to private contractors and contractors do not follow the laws and rules, due to which the number of sewer deaths is not decreasing. Despite strict regulations and procedures, the contractor goes out of reach of the law by taking advantage of the legal lacuna and the aggrieved family is deprived of legal benefits.
Therefore, Shyam Prasad said that the NCSK needs to coordinate between the central and state governments to effectively minimise sewer deaths. There are many problems of the Safai Karamcharis; after privatization, the state government does not take any direct responsibility for their problems, he added
He alleged that all state governments are similar in neglecting the fundamental issues of these workers. Delhi, UP, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu account for more sewer deaths. He recalled that Safai Karamcharis acted as Health Soldiers (Frontline Workers) during the Corona pandemic. He said that the NCSK should be given more constitutional powers to discharge its duties effectively. Samajik Samarata Manch is committed to providing social respect, dignity and equality to Safai Karamcharis.
