The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) has directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to strengthen worker safety, expand mechanised sanitation operations and address pending employment issues during a review meeting held in New Delhi.

The meeting, chaired by NCSK Member Karam Singh Karma, reviewed sanitation services, labour welfare and workplace safety. It was attended by NDMC Secretary Rahul Singh, senior officials from the public health and engineering departments, medical officers, sanitary inspectors, representatives of sanitation worker unions, outsourced service providers, and sanitation workers.

According to the commission, the discussions focused on reducing manual involvement in sewer and drain cleaning through mechanised operations and reviewing the functioning of public health and engineering departments.

During the meeting, the commission issued several administrative directions. It instructed the NDMC to begin the Temporary Muster Roll (TMR) recruitment process for sanitation workers under the Public Health Department. It also directed that the regularisation of services for 28 pending employees in the malaria department be completed within one month.

The commission asked contractors and outsourced agencies to submit employment agreements along with Employees' State Insurance (ESI) and Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) compliance records. It also called for closer monitoring of contractors to ensure outsourced sanitation workers receive statutory social security benefits.

The commission said mechanised sewer and deep drain cleaning should be adopted to reduce risks associated with manual cleaning. The review also covered the availability of safety measures for sanitation workers and compliance with labour welfare provisions.

Karam Singh Karma said sanitation workers should receive safe working conditions and that labour welfare measures must be implemented without delay. He also stressed the need for continuous monitoring of contractor operations to ensure compliance with labour laws and social security requirements.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for sanitation workers and union representatives to raise grievances related to working conditions and service matters. According to the commission, these issues were discussed with NDMC officials for further action.

NDMC Secretary Rahul Singh said the civic body would continue to strengthen monitoring systems and increase the use of technology in sanitation services while working to improve workplace safety for sanitation workers.

The review forms part of the commission's ongoing oversight of sanitation worker welfare, labour standards and measures aimed at reducing manual handling of sewer and drain cleaning operations.