The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) took a comprehensive review in a major initiative to bolster the working conditions, safety and overall welfare of sanitation workers, at high level meeting at New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) here.

The meeting chaired by NCSK Member Shri Karam Singh Karma, was attended by the Secretary of NDMC, Shri Rahul Singh along with Chief Engineers, Directors, the Medical Officer of Health, the Chief Medical Officer, Sanitary Inspectors, senior departmental heads, representatives of Safai Karamchari Unions, officials from outsourced service providers, and sanitation workers from various municipal circles.

During the discussions, Shri Karam Singh Karma evaluated the comprehensive operational architecture of public health and engineering departments with special emphasis laid on ensuring Zero Manual Scavenging and accelerating the adoption of mechanised operations to secure a safe working environment for all cleaning personnel.

Shri Verma said, "Safai Karamcharis are the true custodians of our cities. They begin their day long before the rest of us, leaving their homes at dawn to ensure that our streets, public spaces and neighbourhoods are clean, healthy and welcoming. Their tireless dedication forms the foundation of urban life and deserves the highest respect and recognition. It is our collective responsibility, as well as that of every civic institution, to safeguard their welfare, dignity and working conditions."

The meeting served as an interactive platform where the grievances and structural concerns highlighted by employee union leaders and ground-level sanitation staff, were directly heard and discussed for future course of tangible action.

The Member passed pivotal administrative directives to resolve long standing service issues. Immediate instructions were issued to open the Temporary Muster Roll (TMR) Safai Karamchari recruitment process under the Public Health Department of New Delhi Municipal Corporation. The regularisation of services for 28 pending malaria department employees was mandated within a strict timeline of one month. Besides, strict orders were issued to contractors and external agencies to submit all employment agreements, Employee State Insurance (ESI), and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) compliance records. Mechanisation & Safety: Complete transition to mechanised sewer and deep drain cleaning to eliminate any hazard to human health.

Shri Karam Singh Karma emphasized that labour welfare measures cannot be compromised across the country with the directions to continuously monitor contractor operations to ensure that every outsourced worker receive statutory social security benefits on time.

The NDMC Secretary Shri Rahul Singh reiterated his commitment to adopting top-tier monitoring and technological systems to keep the capital city clean while elevating the standard of living and safety of its essential workforce.

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PR-019-TAR/KV/GA