ARE THE POOR DECEASED SEWER WORKERS' FAMILIES NOT ENTITLED FOR ADEQUATE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION …!

ARE THE POOR DECEASED SEWER WORKERS’ FAMILIES NOT ENTITLED FOR ADEQUATE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION …!

(Sunil Negi, President, Uttarakhand Journalists Forum)
There is lot of talk(s) of reservation n exploitation of votes by political parties in this context but nobody has ever thought seriously about the safety n security of the dalit sewer workers who day in and day out get killed by the pungent n extremely poisonous fumes of sewer gases while working inside the main holes n sewers without any safety net despite the fact that the corporations n the concerned authorities get crores of rupees for providing these workers of dalit communities  n of the lowest ebb of the society enough facilities like proper boots, hand gloves, safety oxygen masks n other safety gadgets. Hundreds of workers, either of municipal corporations or from private sector have been dying since decades in Delhi n other parts of the country while cleaning sewers or manholes but are hardly noticed n compensated adequately whereas the fact remains that its primarily the duty of the state n central governments to adequately compensate the extremely poor n hapless families of such workers, risking their lives while cleaning sewers or manholes. Not only this but they being highly prone to various contagious n infectious diseases n deadly ailments of lungs n skin are also devoid of any governmental treatments, insurance privilege or constant medical check ups. Just take yesterday’s ( 6th July, 2017’s) case of Lajpat Nagar n the one that happened few days ago in Delhi’s Ghitorni locality where in all seven private sewer workers, hired by the Delhi Jal Board tortuously died while cleaning a sewer due to the inhaling of the highly dangerous poisonous gas n the fourth man who went inside the manhole to rescue them, also became unconscious and was saved later on by the passers’ by n DJB staff through lifting by ropes. Shockingly such types of unnoticed death of these poor n hapless sewer workers while working in manholes has become the order of the day n there is literally no law to safeguard them or provide adequate financial compensation to the families of such poor deceased. These dalit workers hail from the lowest ebb of the society n had to risk their lives daily for the survival of their financially deprived families. While such fateful incidents of deaths in manhole are exclusively highlighted in print n electronic news channels for raising their respective TRPs’ but after few days such shocking incidents elapse from the memories of the authorities concerned as they are considered to be of no relevance n rather untouchables. While the creamy layers amongst dalits are availing the maximum advantage of the various privileges accorded to these communities in all sectors, government n private, those hailing from the lowest ebb n strata of the society within these communities, being totally illiterate like these hapless sever workers, unfortunately are always the sufferers with even the concerned agencies not caring for their socio economic welfare n post death adequate financial compensation. While the families of those dying while in government job during duty hours or line of action, calamities or train or plain crashes/ accidents etc acknowledge tremendous financial assistance n compensation, the poor n hapless sewer workers who constantly risk their lives while working inside manholes or drains hardly get any financial benefit or compensation after their deaths in the line of duty. Isn’t it tragic, worrisome, higly unjustifiable n shocking. The Uttarakhand Journalists Forum urges upon the government to devise a concrete law for the safety n security n regular medical check ups n consequent free treatment with insurance facility to these poor sewer workers while alive, compounded with provision of adequate financial compensation to their families in the eventuality of their untimely deaths while on duty irrespective of the fact whether they belonged to the private or government sector.. What do u say friends?