State asked to provide minimum salary to sweepers

SHILLONG: Member of the National Commission for Safai Karamchari, Jagadish Hiremani who was in the city on Friday said that sweepers should get their minimum wage on time for their service.
“Delay the salary of big officers, but don’t delay the salary of Safai Karamcharis (sweepers) in the state, ’’ he said.
Hireman, who is on a visit to Meghalaya, held a meeting with different line departments to know the condition of the sweepers working in the city.
Speaking to media persons, Hiremani lamented that the contractual sweepers under the Shillong Municipal Board are getting a meager salary of Rs 3000 and also said that they are paid irregularly.
“It is not right that the authorities provide salary very late,” he said.
Pointing out that the minimum wage for the sweepers should be Rs 10,500, Hiremani said he would recommend the state government to implement the minimum wage for them.
Earlier in the day, Hiremani also met the Chief Secretary and discussed issues pertaining to sweepers.
During the meeting, it was informed that Shillong Municipal Board which looks after the cleanliness of the municipal areas have 400 sweepers out of which only 98 are permanent.
He also asked the state to provide proper health check up to sweepers every three months besides proper education to their dependants.
He also urged the state government to provide housing to all the sweepers, irrespective of whether they are permanent or casual workers, adding that the officials should make a list of sweepers so that they can avail benefits from the different schemes the Centre has provided.
He also said that he would recommend the state to ensure 5 percent reservation for the wards of safai karamcharis in every private school of the state.
The meeting was also attended by the officials of Shillong Municipal Board, Shillong Cantonment Board, Urban Affairs department, police department and traditional institutions.