Bhubaneswar, Jun 15 (PTI) The Odisha government has made Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mandatory for sanitation workers to safeguard their health and safety, officials said on Monday.
PPE kits will be provided to sanitation workers under the state’s flagship Garima (Gaurav and Respect for Individuals Involved in Manual Activities) scheme.
The Housing & Urban Development Department has intensified implementation of the scheme across all urban local bodies (ULBs) in the state.
The initiative aims to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation practices, promote mechanised sanitation services and provide comprehensive social security benefits to sanitation workers, an official statement said.
The department has decided to identify and register all
core sanitation workers under the scheme to bring them under the ambit of welfare and protection measures, it said.
Housing & Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said, “It is our responsibility to ensure that no worker is exposed to hazardous manual practices and that every sanitation worker and their family has access to housing, healthcare, insurance and other welfare benefits.” Through Garima, the government is building a modern, mechanised and humane sanitation ecosystem where every worker is treated with respect and pride, he said.
Beyond workplace protection, the scheme provides a robust social security framework designed to enhance the long-term well-being of sanitation workers and their families. Eligible beneficiaries are being linked with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban) for access to permanent housing.
The scheme also facilitates financial inclusion, healthcare support, periodic health check-ups and health insurance coverage, thereby reducing economic vulnerabilities and ensuring greater social protection, the statement said. PTI BBM BBM RG
