'Maharashtra Govt To Deploy Robotic Machines, End Manual Scavenging,' Says Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is committed to completely eradicating manual scavenging and the practice of carrying waste on the head, said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

He assured that there will be no shortage of funds to deploy robotic machines for sanitation work across the state. The government is taking all necessary steps in this direction, he added during the Question Hour in the Assembly today. The issue was raised by MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar.

In response, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar stated that the government is dedicated to implementing the recommendations of the Lad-Page Committee, which includes providing jobs to the heirs of sanitation workers and extending full support to the families of deceased workers. A high-level meeting of concerned departments will be convened soon to take positive decisions on these matters.

Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat informed the House that, as per a Supreme Court judgment, the government has already initiated the procurement of robotic machines. A provision of ₹504 crore has been made for this initiative, of which ₹100 crore has already been allocated to the Urban Development Department for the purchase of machines. The remaining machines will be procured within the next three months.

He further said that the families of sanitation workers who have died while performing manual scavenging are given ₹30 lakh in compensation, while those who have suffered permanent disability receive ₹20 lakh, and those with partial disability receive ₹10 lakh. Financial assistance has already been transferred to the bank accounts of 6,324 beneficiaries in the state.

MLAs Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vishwajeet Kadam, and Sanjay Kelkar also participated in the discussion.