The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Congress party, through its general secretary Jairam Ramesh, has strongly criticized the Modi government for its treatment of sanitation workers, particularly in light of recent tragedies involving these workers. At a recent press briefing, Ramesh highlighted a distressing incident in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency of Varanasi, where a sanitation worker died due to gas exposure after entering a sewer without protective equipment. According to Ramesh, this is not an isolated incident in Varanasi, as more than 25 similar deaths have been reported over the last decade.
In response to these ongoing issues, the Congress party has promised comprehensive reforms in its election manifesto aimed at ending the practice of manual scavenging. Ramesh elaborated on the party’s plans, stating, “The Congress will end the evil of manual scavenging. Every manual scavenger will be rehabilitated, re-skilled, provided a job and assured a life of dignity and safety.” He emphasized that the Prohibition of Manual Scavenging Act of 2013 will be strictly enforced under a Congress-led government, and violators will face severe penalties.
Moreover, the Congress manifesto includes provisions for compensating the families of sanitation workers who die on the job, with a proposed payout of Rs 30 lakh. The party also plans to allocate significant funds for the procurement of machines that can safely clean sewers and septic tanks to eliminate the need for human entry.
Further extending its support to sanitation workers, the Congress has pledged to provide free insurance for all workers in this sector and collaborate with state governments to implement a comprehensive underground drainage and safe sewage disposal program across all towns and municipalities within the next decade.
These proposals come as the Congress party positions itself as a champion of the underprivileged and neglected sectors of society, contrasting its policies with what it describes as the failures and injustices of the current government. The forthcoming elections will serve as a critical test of the public’s response to these initiatives.