• By Akansha Pandey
  • Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:42 PM (IST)
  • Source:Jagran News Network
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Rahul Kashyap, Secretary of the National Commission for SafaiKaramcharis (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), issued strict instructions mandating that all sewers and drains in cities be cleaned only with equipment. He stated that manual cleaning should not be carried out under any circumstances and warned that strict action will be taken against those responsible if this occurs.

The instructions were given during a meeting with officials from various departments at Vikas Bhawan. The Secretary urged municipal corporations, authorities, and municipal councils to ensure the availability of all necessary cleaning equipment. He also directed the issuance of a toll-free number for public convenience.

Site Inspections Following Worker Deaths

Prior to the meeting, the Secretary inspected two locations in Noida where sanitation workers recently died:

Sector 115: He visited the sewage pumping station where two sanitation workers, Vikas and Khushal, died of suffocation while cleaning on August .

Sector 26: He also inspected the site where sanitation workers Nanu Mandal and Konkun Mandal died during sewer cleaning.

Following The inspections, he instructed Noida Authority officials to provide financial assistance to the families of all the deceased workers as soon as possible.

Directives For Worker Safety And Welfare

During the meeting at Vikas Bhawan, the Secretary sought detailed information from cleaning agencies and contracted companies regarding the next of kin, family status, insurance, PF, and ESI funds of all sanitation workers.

Key directives issued by the Secretary include:

No Hazardous Work: Sanitation workers must not be forced to do hazardous or life-threatening work.

Protective Equipment: All workers must be regularly provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Equipment Procurement: Equipment for cleaning work should be purchased through the Government of India's NAMASTE scheme.

Health Camps: Regular health check-up camps are to be organised for all sanitation workers.

Benefits For Families Of Deceased Workers

The Secretary emphasised that the families of sanitation workers who died on duty must be promptly provided with all eligible benefits. He specified that this includes:

  • Chief Minister's Relief Fund

  • The Sponsorship Scheme

  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
  • Compensation payments

He stated that no eligible family should face unnecessary delays in receiving assistance and demanded a report on all pending cases within 15 days.

District Magistrate Medha Rupam assured the Secretary that compliance with all instructions would be ensured.

The meeting was attended by Noida Authority's Additional Chief Executive Officer Satish Pal, Chief Development Officer Dr Shivakant Dwivedi, District Social Welfare Officer Satish Kumar, ACP Crime Umesh Yadav, Deputy CMO Dr Tikam Singh, Deputy Labour Commissioner Rakesh Dwivedi, and other officials.

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