BHUBANESWAR: In a major welfare and social security measure for core sanitation workers engaged in cleaning sewer and septic tanks, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday announced ex gratia of Rs 30 lakh for loss of life at work and houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban for them.
They will be provided with a life insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh while senior sanitation workers will get mobile phones. More than 10,000 sanitation workers in 115 towns of the state have been identified under the scheme and recognised as skilled and unskilled workers. They will get the benefits of the new social security measures, the chief minister said.
Inaugurating a two-day national workshop on Garima Yojana with focus on ‘Transforming core sanitation work - safety, dignity and inclusion’ at the Lok Seva Bhawan here, Majhi said the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always given importance to welfare of sanitation workers. The prime minister had given a call to build toilets in every house on August 15, 2014 emphasising the importance of sanitation, he said.
Referring to the implementation of Garima Yojana in Odisha, the chief minister said the workshop will enable sanitation workers from different states to learn from one another’s interactions and experiences. Garima Yojana ensures safety, dignity and social security of sanitation workers. It has been an inspiration for many states in meeting the national sanitation targets, he added.
He also announced a 15-day awareness drive in the state from August 15 to 30 to sensitise common people on issues of proper sanitation and cleanliness. The chief minister inaugurated an exhibition of modern safety equipments related to sanitation work.
Stating that sanitation workers are the unsung heroes of our cities and villages, Housing and Urban Development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said they often work in dangerous conditions. “Through today’s workshop, we have brought together different states, cities and institutions of the country so that we can share our experiences, learn and collaborate,” he said.