KOCHI: At a time when policy makers are contemplating a complete ban on jobs like septic tanks cleaning owing to the dire health hazards posed by these, Kochi Corporation is still stuck to old ways.After decades of door-to-door garbage collection in the city, many of the Corporation’s garbage pickers including those from the Kudumbasree lack the basic safety gear.“As per the norms, we can provide the safety gears like gloves and other items only to the permanent staff of the Corporation. Since many of the persons employed in these jobs are on contract basis, the Corporation cannot provide them with any safety gear,” said a Health Supervisor from the Corporation.As of now, the Corporation has more than 500 persons employed in various hazardous jobs including cleaning of drains, clearing of waste dumped at roadsides, sprinkling of pesticides, garbage collection from houses and so on.Moreover, during the event of an outbreak, they are often the first persons to be sent on the ground to take up various preventive measures, often coming in direct contact with the sources of various diseases.“We have been repeatedly raising the issue. In the case of garbage picking, we have to do it all with our bare hands. Even a garbage bin is not provided. Though we have been repeatedly assured of assistance, nothing has materialised so far,” said a Kudumbasree member who collects garbage in Fort Kochi.Even the Kudumbasree has been unable to provide any help to its members employed in these activities owing to lack of funds.“The Kudumbasree has not been provided with any funds to provide the gear to the women who pick garbage. The health department of the Corporation is in-charge of these. In cases like the beach cleaning in Fort Kochi, the gear has been provided with the funding of the tourism department. But in the case of the Corporation, we have not received any such funds,” said a Kudumbasree Project Officer.The Corporation health standing committee chairman told City Express that the issue is being taken up with the utmost seriousness. “It is a very serious issue.Since the Corporation has no power to provide the gear, we are looking at bringing in various agencies. Some of them have already been approached and some have responded positively,” said T K Ashraf, Chairperson, Health Standing Committee, Kochi CorporationFACT FILE■ As of now, the Corporation has more than 500 persons employed in various hazardous jobs including cleaning of drains, clearing of waste etc■ During the event of an outbreak, they are often the first persons to be sent on the ground to take up various preventive measures, often coming in direct contact with the sources of various diseases
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