Railway staff pressured to scrub bathrooms with naked palms; NCSK to probe

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Sanitation staff are allegedly pressured to scrub bathrooms on trains with naked palms. 

A video of a sanitation employee claiming that staff have to scrub bathrooms on trains with naked palms has gone viral and thereby caught the eye of the National Commission of Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).

The Chairman of the Commission M Venkatesan advised the media {that a} correct inquiry can be carried out into the allegation made within the video.

Venkatesan was talking at a assessment assembly organised by the Madurai Division of Southern Railway on Monday. 

“Manual scavenging in the railways has been completely eradicated. However, a video has gone viral now in which a sanitation worker, with video evidence, claims that the workers have been doing manual scavenging. If the incident is proven right, a case will be registered against the contract company, and legal action will be taken,” Venkatesan stated.

“They also said the authorities provide them only one pair of gloves per month and don’t issue them uniforms,” Venkatesan stated.

He additional stated that a number of sanitation staff have additionally aired their grievances referring to their contracts stating that they had been denied PF, bonuses, and different advantages. They had been being paid a every day wage of Rs 365.

“The Railways department has been giving Rs 600 as the daily wage to sanitation workers. The railway authorities have been asked to conduct a proper inquiry into these issues and bring justice to the workers. They have also been instructed to take action against the contract company, and cancel their contract,” he added.  

“Employing sanitation workers on a contractual agreement must be discontinued. The state government should come forward to regularise their employment. Tamil Nadu is the first state to have reported the highest number of deaths during manual scavenging. As many as 225 people have lost their lives while cleaning manholes since 1993. In order to bring an end to the issue, the state government must come forward to purchase equipment for cleaning drainage,” he stated.

He additional urged the state authorities to rethink the G.O., which states that if a sanitation employee retires from work, the respective emptiness have to be crammed by one other sanitation employee on a contract foundation.

“The welfare board for cleanliness workers at present has been functioning without any legal power. It must be converted into a powerful commission in the future,” he added.  

He additional acknowledged that the Railway authorities have been advised to conduct consciousness programmes on violence towards girls and supply helpline numbers the place they’ll lodge complaints.

MADURAI: Sanitation staff are allegedly pressured to scrub bathrooms on trains with naked palms. 

A video of a sanitation employee claiming that staff have to scrub bathrooms on trains with naked palms has gone viral and thereby caught the eye of the National Commission of Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).

The Chairman of the Commission M Venkatesan advised the media {that a} correct inquiry can be carried out into the allegation made within the video.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

Venkatesan was talking at a assessment assembly organised by the Madurai Division of Southern Railway on Monday. 

“Manual scavenging in the railways has been completely eradicated. However, a video has gone viral now in which a sanitation worker, with video evidence, claims that the workers have been doing manual scavenging. If the incident is proven right, a case will be registered against the contract company, and legal action will be taken,” Venkatesan stated.

“They also said the authorities provide them only one pair of gloves per month and don’t issue them uniforms,” Venkatesan stated.

He additional stated that a number of sanitation staff have additionally aired their grievances referring to their contracts stating that they had been denied PF, bonuses, and different advantages. They had been being paid a every day wage of Rs 365.

“The Railways department has been giving Rs 600 as the daily wage to sanitation workers. The railway authorities have been asked to conduct a proper inquiry into these issues and bring justice to the workers. They have also been instructed to take action against the contract company, and cancel their contract,” he added.  

“Employing sanitation workers on a contractual agreement must be discontinued. The state government should come forward to regularise their employment. Tamil Nadu is the first state to have reported the highest number of deaths during manual scavenging. As many as 225 people have lost their lives while cleaning manholes since 1993. In order to bring an end to the issue, the state government must come forward to purchase equipment for cleaning drainage,” he stated.

He additional urged the state authorities to rethink the G.O., which states that if a sanitation employee retires from work, the respective emptiness have to be crammed by one other sanitation employee on a contract foundation.

“The welfare board for cleanliness workers at present has been functioning without any legal power. It must be converted into a powerful commission in the future,” he added.  

He additional acknowledged that the Railway authorities have been advised to conduct consciousness programmes on violence towards girls and supply helpline numbers the place they’ll lodge complaints.