GARIMA to ensure dignity for Odisha's sanitation workers

Bhubaneshwar, Sept 18: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched the Garima scheme for socio - economic security of the sanitation workers. An initial corpus of Rs. 50 crore has been announced by the state government for the scheme. The decision is one of its kind in consideration of not only the sanitation workers but also their families, providing them with substantial financial benefits, health facilities, along with an excess administrative aid.

 

 

 

The state has estimated to provide aid to 20,000 core sanitation workers along with their families comprising of 1 lakh people. The announcement was made through a video conference. The state government has proposed for the formation of a separate committee for sanitation workers.

 

On the backdrop of the Pandemic, the decision of the Odisha government to attend the problems of sanitation workers is exceptional. CM Naveen Patnaik addressed the conference by stating, " Our conscience can never be calmed if we don't take steps to correct the injustice done to these people. My government has therefore decided to launch a scheme to ensure the safety and dignity of core sanitation workers." The Chief Minister also remarked that the scheme is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary, who has worked selflessly for the upliftment and dignity of these workers.

 

 

 

The Housing and Urban Development Department has signed an MoU with the Urban Management Center to provide technical support for the implementation of the scheme.

 

According to the latest announcements made by the state government, Employees' Provident Fund ( EPF ), retirement benefits and post-service pensions for the family members are on the priority. The working hours of these workers will be limited to 6 hours. Considering the increasing incidents of deaths of manual scavengers due to threats experienced while working, the government has also decided to provide the core sanitation workers with regular periodic medical check ups.

 

The work of manual scavenging follows the tradition of hierarchy, which is why an entire section of the society remains untouched from the process of social development. These are often counted as offbeat marginalized groups of society, whose social contribution is irreplaceable but their dignity and health is compromised in the entire process. The Odisha Government, with its remarkable move to implement the Garima scheme, has become the first state of India to propose a scheme for the upliftment and development of the core sanitation workers.