The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) conducted a comprehensive review of sanitation worker working conditions, safety, and welfare measures during a high-level meeting at the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The meeting was chaired by NCSK Member Karam Singh Karma and attended by NDMC Secretary Rahul Singh, chief engineers, directors, medical officers, sanitary inspectors, senior departmental heads, representatives of Safai Karamchari Unions, officials from outsourced service providers, and sanitation workers from various municipal circles.
During the discussions, the commission evaluated the operational architecture of public health and engineering departments with special emphasis on achieving Zero Manual Scavenging and accelerating the adoption of mechanized operations to ensure a safe working environment for all cleaning personnel. Member Karma emphasized that sanitation workers are the true custodians of cities and deserve the highest respect and recognition, making it a collective responsibility to safeguard their welfare, dignity, and working conditions.
The commission issued several pivotal administrative directives to resolve long-standing service issues. Immediate instructions were given to open the Temporary Muster Roll (TMR) Safai Karamchari recruitment process under NDMC's Public Health Department. The regularization of services for 28 pending malaria department employees was mandated within a strict timeline of one month. Contractors and external agencies received strict orders to submit all employment agreements, Employee State Insurance (ESI), and Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) compliance records.
Regarding mechanization and safety, the commission directed a complete transition to mechanized sewer and deep drain cleaning operations to eliminate any hazard to human health. Member Karma emphasized that labor welfare measures cannot be compromised nationwide, with directions to continuously monitor contractor operations to ensure all outsourced workers receive statutory social security benefits on time. NDMC Secretary Rahul Singh committed to adopting top-tier monitoring and technological systems to keep the capital city clean while elevating the standard of living and safety of its essential workforce.