Sanitation Workers allege no safety in Covid, demands mask, gloves: Bengaluru

Sanitation workers, including those deployed to collect medical waste, under Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have alleged that they have not been provided sufficient masks or gloves despite raising a demand with the authorities.

“With almost 2 lakh active cases, our members who handle the medical waste of that in-home isolation are in a terrible situation.

They have not been given any mask/gloves since last year despite asking for them repeatedly,” the BBMP Pourakarmika Sangha alleged.

#Bengaluru: Sanitation workers handling medical waste, including places where #Covid19 patients are in home isolation, allege no supply of mask, gloves, personal protective equipment, transportation to mustering centres.

@IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/pBZeLZsoHD

— Ralph Alex Arakal (@ralpharakal) April 28, 2021

According to Nirmala M, the President of the Sangha, the sanitation workers are being exposed to a more “severe and deadlier” strain of the virus ever since the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit Bengaluru.

They complained that the sanitation workers were also not provided with transport facilities to mustering centres.

“There has been no proper toilet facilities, water, soaps, or sanitisers at these centres as well despite us working throughout the pandemic,” said Ratna, who is deployed at BBMP Ward number 55.

The Sangha has written to the BBMP Chief Commissioner, Special Commissioner (SWM), and the Joint Commissioner (Health & SWM) requesting transportation facility for workers to mustering centres during the ongoing lockdown.

They also demanded daily health check-up and screenings, sick leave with pay, risk allowance and quarantining facilities if a pourakarmika tests positive.

The sanitation workers have also pointed out that several households mix medical waste with others, failing to segregate waste properly.