Families of 2 manual scavengers to get Rs 10L compensation each

Coimbatore: Three days after Pandidurai and his older brother Murugan of Namachivaayam Colony died while cleaning a septic tank without any protective gear, municipal administration and rural affairs minister SP Velumani on Tuesday announced Rs 10lakh compensation each to their families.
The duo, who were called to clean a septic tank at a house at Thirunagar, had inhaled poisonous gases. Murugan had been working as a sanitary worker with the corporation for the last five years, but also used to do odd jobs like the one on Tuesday. The men were called by their friend Suresh, who took them to the house.

Meanwhile, city corporation officials said that the residents had hired the two men to clean the tank without informing or contacting the corporation.

The rules under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 mandates that no person shall be allowed to clean drains manually. Any physical contact with excreta is banned. Sucking and jetting machines should be used. Protective equipment such as gumboots, gloves, masks, soap and disinfectants are to be given every month to the workers by the contractor. If protective equipment is not found on the workers, employers should not engage them.