They keep us safe from disease and pestilence, face the risk of contagion and brave the daily disgust brought on by their jobs. Perhaps as a result of the load they bear, the city's conservancy workers-- sweepers and garbage carriers-- are prone to dying on the job. After dna reported on December 17 that 21 conservancy workers die every month while still in service, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has undertaken a study to find out just why this is happening. It is the first such study in the organisation's history.
As dna reported, the civic body has lost 2,614 conservancy workers over a span of ten years (between 2004 and 2013). The numbers translate into an average of 261 deaths every year or 21 in a month. This year, 93 died; it is the lowest annual figure.
Deputy municipal commissioner Prakash Patil said, "We want to know whether they died due to ill-health caused by the work itself, or because of socio-economic causes. Hence, the environmental pollution research cell attached to KEM hospital has been asked to conduct a study in this regard," deputy municipal commissioner Prakash Patil said.
Patil said the study is expected to be completed in a month, after which the BMC will formulate solutions to the issues discovered.
Better late than never, said BMC opposition leader Devendra Amberkar, who has raised the issue of staffers' deaths in the past. Amberkar said, "So many people have lost their lives in the past. The administration never cared about their deaths. Finally, they have woken up."
The Kachra Vahtuk Shramik Sangh, a labourers' union, has welcomed the move. "This is the first time BMC will carry out a study into the labourers' plight. We welcome the decision. Besides coming up with a study, the corporation must make plans to address the issues raised by these deaths and ensure effective implementation of the plans," Milind Ranade, general secretary of the Sangh said.
The BMC has 28,000 posts of permanent conservancy staffers. It has over 5,000 contract labourers too.
Conservancy staffers' deaths
2004: 288
2005: 246
2006: 247
2007:246
2008: 294
2009: 299
2010: 322
2011: 264
2012: 222
2013: 186
2014: 93
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