On a Swachh note, TMC trains sanitary workers in waste management

THANE: In a bid to improve its ranking in the nation-wide Swachh Survekshan list next year, the civic administration recently conducted a training session in waste collection and segregation for hundreds of

sanitary workers

from different pockets of the city.

The initial phase of the initiative saw nearly 300 sweepers attending the workshop, led by environmentalists. As many as 200 labourers from Kalwa, Majiwada, Manpada and Vartak Nagar areas also attended the workshop.

During the workshop, volunteers told the workers that they need to adhere to certain safety measures like avoid consumption of tobacco while working, cut their nails, wear appropriate footwear, gloves, masks and wash their hands with soap after disposing the waste.

Jayant Joshi, a city-based environmentalist who had imparted training earlier this week, said, “The labourers who perform such kind of work often feel demotivated as they have to do menial jobs like pick up trash and segregate and dispose it of. So, the least we can do is ensure that they are provided the appropriate safety equipments. I received a good response from workers.”

“We informed them about home composting too, we also asked some labourers to take a compost bin for their households. With the help of the civic officials I want to train these workers in composting waste as this is a future-sustainable solution to effectively treat wet waste. This training will not only encourage labourers to be more conscious about the environment, but will also give them an added remuneration if they can find a job in housing societies who have installed a common compost bin,” added Joshi.

Meanwhile, civic officials said that the initiative is the first of the many steps that the corporation will be undertaking to raise their rank from 40th position in the list of cleanest cities under the Swachh Survekshan campaign.

“This time in the Swachh Survekshan there is an increase in the emphasis given to processing and disposal of waste. Special marks will also be given to a city if it is opting for home composting methods. We will do our best to achieve maximum possible marks in both these fields. We are focusing on 100% waste segregation as we have organised an array of awareness campaigns, slum

waste management

projects and much more,” said a civic official.

During the workshop, volunteers told sanitary workers that they need to adhere to certain safety measures like avoid consumption of tobacco while working, cut their nails, wear appropriate footwear, gloves, masks and wash their hands with soap after disposing the waste