Use of new tech is key

Hyderabad: National Safai Karmachari Commission conducted a review meeting on 'Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act-2013' in GHMC office on Tuesday.

National Safai Karmachari Commission member Jagadish Hiremani, GHMC Commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar, Additional Commissioners, Zonal Commissioners and representatives of National Safai Karmachari Commission participated in the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Jagadish Hiremani said, "We are giving importance to develop new technologies in the Sanitation Department. We have already proposed to the Centre about the use modern machinery rather than the manual process for sanitation.

A national conference will be held in November explaining about the usage of the new technology methods." Hireman further added, "Sewerage cleaning is being done by robots in Kerala. We are taking suggestions from IIT and IIM for bringing this type of technology for national-wide usage."

"Rehabilitation program should be provided for the persons who were dependent on manual scavenging, but later stopped. Action should be taken on the officials who are negligent in providing those benefits. As per the survey on manual scavenging in Greater Hyderabad, there are 353 members dependent on sanitation. They should be given proper medical treatment and their children should be provided with proper education," he added.

Speaking on the sanitation in Hyderabad, he said that it has improved a lot compared to the sanitation in the past. He added, "If anyone shares the information about anyone who is dependent on manual scavenging and stopped will be awarded Rs 40,000 from central Government."

Speaking on the occasion, DS Lokesh Kumar said, "Manual scavenging is completely banned in Hyderabad. 69 jetting and mini-sucking machines have been introduced by the GHMC. We have started special program for the welfare of 18,550 sanitation workers."

He further added, "Every sanitation worker will be applicable for ESI and EPF, and they are given gloves, raincoats, masks and so on for their safety. Recently, cancer confirmation tests are conducted to all women sanitary workers in the GHMC." Later, Commissioner Lokesh Kumar and Jagadish Hiremani were felicitated by some organisations.