Under the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Shram Safalya Awas Yojana, dwelling units are provided free of cost and on an ownership basis to eligible heirs of conservancy workers after their retirement or in the event of death while in service. Currently, the benefit is extended only to sanitation workers who have completed 25 years or more of service.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed the Urban Development Department (UDD) to prepare a proposal to reduce this service requirement from 25 years to 20 years and present it before the Cabinet.
Key Meeting Held to Address Sanitation Worker Welfare
A meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Ajit Pawar at Mantralaya to discuss issues concerning sanitation workers. Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat, MLAs Sanjay Meshram and Atul Bhatkhalkar, Additional Chief Secretary of Finance O.P. Gupta, Dr. Rajgopal Deora, Principal Secretary of Social Justice Dr. Harshdeep Kamble, Secretary to the Deputy CM Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, along with senior officials from the Urban Development and Social Justice Departments, and representatives of the State Safai Karmachari Commission and related unions were present.
‘Manhole to Machinehole’ Scheme Gets Financial Boost
To eliminate the practice of manual scavenging, the government has launched the ‘Manhole to Machinehole’ scheme. Under this initiative, drains, sewer lines, and septic tanks are to be cleaned using mechanised equipment. The scheme includes the procurement of cleaning machinery, modern vehicles, and emergency response sanitation units.
Implemented by the UDD, the scheme has been allocated ₹504 crore. An additional ₹100 crore was sanctioned during the Monsoon Session of 2024–25 and disbursed by March 31, 2025. Procurement of robotic units, cleaning equipment, and emergency vehicles is currently underway.
Training and Maintenance Mandate for Equipment
Ajit Pawar directed that agencies must ensure three-year maintenance contracts for the newly procured vehicles and organise training sessions for sanitation workers to operate them effectively.
Strict Compliance Ordered on Lad-Page Committee Recommendations
“The state government resolution issued based on the recommendations of the Lad-Page Committee must be implemented by all municipal corporations and councils at the earliest. Failure to comply will attract strict action,” warned Pawar.
He further instructed that each municipal corporation and council must submit a detailed report to the UDD regarding the number of sanitation workers currently employed in their jurisdiction.
