Chairman of NCSK reviews condition of Safai Karamcharis in Manipur

IMPHAL, Oct 9 (DIPR)
Chairman (Rank & Status of Union Minister of State), National Commission of Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), M Venkatesan, held a review meeting today with Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Administrative Secretary ( Home/ Forest & Envt/ TA & Hills/ Fisheries/ Transport/ Hort & SC/GAD/ Health & FW/ MAHUD/ Labour & Emp/ Social Welfare/ Vety & AM/ MA- OBC & SC/ Water Resource/ MI/ Relief & DM), Government of Manipur, Director (MAHUD),Director (Vety & AM), Municipal Commissioner, Imphal Municipal Corporation and N Nimbus Singh, President, Imphal Municipal Employees Union.
The meeting was to review the implementation of ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ and it was held at the Conference Hall of Manipur Secretariat (South block).
During the meeting, M Venkatesan emphasized on how to improve and develop the economy and health of the workers.
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis stress more on street scavengers in other States however Manipur has no street scavengers hence street sweepers are included in the list, he added.
The Chairman checked on whether they are given wages or salaries as prescribed by the Government. He was informed that in context of Manipur, sweepers are categorized in two groups-regular employees and daily wages/ muster roll.
Regular employees are drawing monthly salaries like any other Government employees  whereas daily wages/ muster roll employees are given minimum wages as prescribed by the Government.  They are also enjoying benefits of welfare schemes such as CMHT provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria along with the paid holidays during festivals. At present, employees working under Imphal Municipal Corporation are approximately 250 and those working under 10 NGOs are 400.
Later in the evening, DC, Imphal West organised an interaction programme for Safai Karamcharis with  M Venkatesan at the lawn of DC Office Complex Lamphelpat.  
During the interaction programme, he encouraged the workers to bring up any problems faced by them related to their works and to bring about solutions since it is necessary to express their grievances and problems.
The Chairman  informed that  the National Commission for Safai Karamacharis was established solely for them. He stressed on the importance of services provided by them in day to day life and said that he can relate to the problems faced by them as he is also an offspring of safai karamacharis workers.
The interaction programme was also attended by Municipal Commissioner, Imphal Municipal Corporation, CEO, Imphal West Zilla Parisad, all SDMs of Imphal West District, all BDOs of Imphal West District, all EOs of Municipalities of Imphal West District, Chief Medical Officer, Imphal West District, District Level Officer(Labour Dept), District Social Welfare Officer, Imphal West District and all Safai Karamcharis employees and their Association Leaders of Imphal West District.