New Delhi, October 22 (H.S.): Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with officials of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) to review key issues concerning the welfare, rehabilitation, safety and socio-economic empowerment of sanitation workers.

During the meeting, Dr. Kumar emphasised the need to provide appropriate training to enhance the skills of sanitation workers, noting that this would promote safer working practices and enable them to perform their duties with dignity and security. He called for wider dissemination of the provisions and benefits of the Ministry’s National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme across the country to ensure that the maximum number of eligible beneficiaries could access its benefits.

To eliminate unsafe sanitation practices, Dr. Kumar directed the authorities to provide eligible sanitation workers with modern mechanised equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits. He also stressed the importance of regular maintenance, monitoring and effective utilisation of the equipment to ensure safe working conditions.

The Minister underscored the need for the stringent implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, along with its associated rules, across the country.

Dr. Kumar instructed the NCSK to intensify its efforts to safeguard the rights and dignity of sanitation workers. He also called for stronger coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure that the benefits of government welfare schemes reached every eligible beneficiary.

The meeting reaffirmed the Central Government’s commitment to improving the living standards of sanitation workers, ensuring safer working environments and strengthening the effective implementation of welfare initiatives at the grassroots level.

NCSK Chairperson Bhagwat Prasad Makwana, members Manoj Kumar Valmiki, Ravi Ramu Kalose and Dr. Sushma Gaurial were among those present at the meeting. The concerned Joint Secretaries of the Ministry also attended.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar