Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 08 November 2024
The Andaman Nicobar Rajya Karmachari Mahasangh (ANRKM), alongside the Nagarpalika Swachhtha Karmachari Sangh (NSKS), hosted a Samman Samaroh in honour of Mr. M. Venkatesan, the Hon’ble Chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK). The event, held at Dollygunj, brought together key representatives from various organisations to recognise the contributions of Safai Karmacharis in the region.
The program commenced with a formal welcome of distinguished guests including Mr. M. Venkatesan, Mr. K. Thyagarajan, Vibhag Sah Karyavah, RSS, Mr. Vishal Jolly, NEC Member, BJP, Mr. M. Veeranna, State President, BMS, Mr. Jaydeep Kumar Dey, President, ANRKM, and Mr. Shyam Sunder Rao, President, NSKS. The guests were honoured with Angvastras as a mark of respect.
Mr. Palaniyandi, Secretary of NSKS, began the event by delivering the welcome address. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Venkatesan for accepting the invitation and meeting with union and sangathan representatives. Mr. Shyam Sunder Rao, in his address, detailed the struggles of the Safai Karmacharis working in the region and urged for the regularisation of their employment, similar to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which was implemented in 2023.
Mr. Vishal Jolly spoke passionately about the fight to secure 1/30th of pay for all Safai Karmacharis, a battle that culminated in the sanctioning of over Rs. 5 lakh in arrears under the current government. He highlighted the long years of service by many employees, some of whom have worked for over two decades. Despite being hailed as frontline workers during the pandemic, these workers continue to face issues regarding regularisation. Mr. Jolly emphasized that regularisation is a right, and warned of potential protests if the matter is not addressed amicably by the administration.
Mr. K. Thyagarajan briefly discussed the activities of the RSS and its affiliated organisations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while Mr. M. Venkatesan assured the attendees that the NCSK is actively working to resolve the ongoing issues faced by Safai Karmacharis. He stressed that the Commission will prioritise healthcare and statutory requirements in the first phase, and will work towards bringing employees under the coverage of the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), a demand from the unions over the past year. On the matter of regularisation, Mr. Venkatesan assured that the issue would be taken up with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUPA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), especially considering the nearing superannuation age of many employees.
Additionally, Mr. Venkatesan urged that the children of Safai Karmacharis be kept out of the profession and encouraged their pursuit of education for a brighter future. He called upon the unions to support these families by utilising the various government schemes available through the Ministry of Social Justice.
To commemorate the event, the committee members of NSKS presented an idol of Bhagwan Krishna as a momento to Mr. Venkatesan. The program concluded with Mr. Jaydeep Kumar Dey, President of ANRKM, offering a vote of thanks, followed by dinner with all dignitaries.
The event highlighted the ongoing efforts to address the concerns of Safai Karmacharis, with a promise from the NCSK Chairman to continue advocating for their rights and well-being.