The Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes has sought a detailed report from the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) over allegations that the Shimla Environment, Heritage Conservation and Beautification (SEHB) Society asked its workers and supervisors to submit affidavits stating that they would not go on strike.
Commission Chairman Kuldeep Kumar Dhiman issued the directions while chairing a review meeting of the HP State Safai Karamchari Commission held here today. He directed the corporation to submit an explanation on the matter, adding that further action would be taken after examining the report.
Dhiman also urged the Municipal Corporation to work towards making Shimla a model city. He said, “It has come to my notice that sanitation workers are carrying garbage on their heads. We need to move towards automation and minimise manual garbage collection. It is essential that sanitation work is carried out in a professional manner.”
The chairman further directed the corporation to conduct surprise inspections of sanitation facilities, stating that the quality of services could not improve without regular monitoring. He added that ensuring secure employment opportunities for as many people as possible remained a priority for the commission.
“Sanitation workers should be protected from exploitation and provided with all necessary facilities,” Dhiman said.
Shimla Municipal Commissioner Sachin Kanwal, who attended the meeting, said that the corporation had not received any applications under the Maharishi Valmiki Kamgar Awas Yojana so far. “An awareness camp will be organised to spread information about the scheme,” he said.
Kanwal informed officials present at the meeting that 3,457 pairs of gloves, 3,428 masks, 1,118 raincoats and gumboots had been provided to 62 sanitation workers during the current financial year. He added that 931 employees were currently working under the SEHB Society. He also stated that seven employees had recently been appointed in the corporation on compassionate grounds.