Sewer men’s saga: 245 die in 30 yrs

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 31

The condition of sewer men in the city has been deteriorating for the past few years. While only three of them have so far retired since 1980, around 245 have died in the past 30 years in service only.

Also, out of the 420 sewer men presently working in the city, 90 per cent are suffering from various chronic ailments like tuberculosis, kidney problem, cancer, asthma, eye disorders and various skin ailments. Shockingly, there is no provision of any health scheme benefit for these workers by the state government.

According to Pawan Baba, president, Punjab Sewer Men Association, there were initially 305 regular sewer men in the city in 1992. Also, there were around 180 contractual employees, who were made permanent in 1995. “However, the number has now reduced to 240 employees only. While only three3 have so far retired in the last 30 years, 245 have died due to various ailments,” claimed Baba. He also said that while the state government had formed a panel to buy safety kits for the sewer men a few years ago, it had failed to procure the equipment till date even after a work order for the same had been issued two years ago.

Surprisingly, with numerous health insurance schemes in the state, the down-trodden community that ironically constitutes a major share in the total vote bank of the district, was found ignorant about any of the Central or state health insurance scheme like the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme or Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). Also, unlike officials, there is no provision of an annual medical examination for the sewer men employed with the local bodies, including municipal corporations and municipal committees.

According to 50-year-old Pawan Kumar, a sewer man suffering from asthma, he has taken loans worth Rs 3 lakh from various sources for his treatment. “I am also suffering from tuberculosis and have to shell out Rs 3,000-4,000 every month for my treatment. Though there is a reimbursement policy for us, it is of no use, as we really have to run from pillar to post for at least two to three years to get our money back,” said Kumar.

Ironically, despite facing a huge financial crunch, a majority of them are taking treatment from private hospitals due to the lack of care and trust in government hospitals.

According to sewer man Shiv Kumar, suffering from tuberculosis and diabetes, he had to get his leg amputated a few years ago due to acute diabetes. “In fact, our job down the gutter is far more dangerous and challenging than the Army who are at least provided equipment and weapons to face the enemy. “We, on the other hand, are pushed to go deep under to clean the human waste without any masks or gloves. Though manual scavenging is banned all over the country, we are still carrying it out in a majority of the places in the city where there is no sewerage system installed by the MC till date,” said Shiv Kumar.

Chandan Grewal, president, Sanitation Workers Union, said there was a dire need to introduce hospital empanelment facility of the sanitation workers in the state. “Around 95 per cent of the workers are suffering from various chronic ailments and have taken huge loans. The state government should introduce hospital empanelment facility for them to prevent them from falling into the vicious cycle of high-interest loans. Also, the government should introduce pension scheme for them,” said Grewal.

According to government statistics, there were around 22,000 deaths of sewer men reported in 2014 in the entire country. Though the community forms an integral part of our society and also plays a decisive role in elections, it has failed to gain much in the past few years and was on the verge of extinction due to the lackaidiscal attitude of the state government and also society!

Concerns of sewer men

• Instead of medical reimbursement, a hospital empanelment facility should be introduced for them where the state government should directly pay their medical expenses to the respective hospital.
• An annual medical examination scheme should be introduced for them so that any disease can be caught in the beginning itself.
• The MC should tie up with various banks to provide low-interest health loans for them and educational loans for their children.
• The government should provide well-equipped safety kits to each one of them to ensure their health safety.
• A pension scheme should be introduced for them so that they can repay their loans with ease even after their retirement.