Bengaluru: Despite repeated pleas, first-aid kits elude waste management workers

BENGALURU: After months of struggle,

solid waste management workers

and garbage collection drivers in

Bellandur

were recently provided first-aid kits by the

Bellandur residents’ welfare association

and

Kasa Muktha Bellandur

(KMB). But sanitation workers elsewhere in the city are still managing without them.


The struggle of

Bellandur workers

was successful only because a teenager in the area raised concern after seeing the driver of a waste collection auto-tipper cutting his hand while collecting garbage a few months ago.

Seema Sharma

, a member of KMB, was taken aback when her 18-year-old son questioned her about the safety equipment provided to sanitation workers. “My son was outraged seeing the injured driver tying up his hand in a dirty piece of cloth,” she said.

His question had Seema pondering. “Solid

waste management workers

barely have basic safety equipment. They do not have a uniform, their clothes are soiled and they have no gloves,” she said.

“We initially spoke to the

BBMP

health officer concerned on providing medical kits to their employees, but they paid no heed to us,” Seema said, explaining why the citizens decided to act on their own.

“Every vehicle in the city has a medical kit, but BBMP auto-tippers don’t. Regardless of the numerous requests we raise, no attention is paid to the demands of sanitation workers,” said Clifton D’ Rozario, lawyer, All India Lawyers Association for Justice.

Manjunath N, a sanitation worker and waste collector at Kengeri, said, “Many times while collecting waste, sharp objects cut our hands. We just pour some alcohol on it and tie it up with a handkerchief. There are no first-aid kits to help us.”

Another auto-tipper driver,

Prakash K

from

Pulakeshinagar

, said BBMP does not care about the well-being of sanitation workers. “The last time we got a mask or gloves was a year ago and even then, we were given one pair each. How long can we work with them?” he asked.

Harish Kumar, special commissioner (SWM), BBMP, said he was unaware of the issue but would look into it.