11 sanitation workers died in 2 years: Gujarat Govt

The minister was responding to a starred question raised by Congress MLA from Jamalpur constituency Imran Khedawala.

The government admitted that it was yet to disburse financial compensation to six families — two who lost their family members in 2021-22 and four in 2022-23.

As on January 31, 2023, the state government has a provision of providing Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family of sanitation worker who dies while cleaning sewers.  Thus, in the past two years, the state government has provided Rs 50 lakh to five families, the minister said.

Adding that the state government was concerned about the death of sanitation workers, Babariya said these happen despite guidelines banning the cleaning of sewers by people in municipal corporations, Nagar Palikas and Gram Panchayats.

In reply to another supplementary question on assistance and security to sanitation workers, the minister added that the government is constantly striving to free them from this work.

“The Safai Kamdar Development Corporation is providing safety equipment and loans to the workers in which loan assistance is provided at the rate of 4 to 6 per cent and subsidy ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 75,000 is also given by the state government,” she stated.

She added that suction machines, hydraulic trolleys, drainage machines and washing equipment have been made available in municipalities, municipal corporations and village panchayats so that the cleaning workers do not have to work in the sewers, while safety equipment such as breathing devices, full body suits, helmets and goggles are also provided.