Gaps in Sanitation Worker Safety: Parliamentary Panel Urges Urgent Reforms
A parliamentary committee criticized the slow progress in providing safety equipment, health coverage, and training for sanitation workers in India. While a significant number have been profiled under the NAMASTE scheme, many remain unvalidated and lack proper protective gear and health cards, risking their safety and benefits.
- Country:
- India
Despite advancements in the NAMASTE scheme to profile sanitation workers, a recent parliamentary report highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring their safety and well-being in India.
The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment revealed that of the 73,289 workers profiled, only 69,231 were validated against an estimated need for 100,000 workers, signaling gaps that could deny workers essential benefits.
The slow rollout of safety equipment and health cards under this scheme could pose dangers, and the report calls for expedited profiling, validation, and distribution of resources to ensure the workers' safety and dignity while eliminating direct contact with human waste.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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