KMC Contractor Arrested After Manual Scavenging Tragedy
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Synopsis
Alimuddin Sheikh, a contractor for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, was arrested after three workers he employed for manual scavenging died. Families allege deception regarding the nature of their work, raising questions about responsibility and safety protocols.
Key Takeaways
- Contractor Alimuddin Sheikh arrested.
- Three workers died during manual scavenging.
- Families claim deception in job promises.
- Investigation into contractor's exploitation of workers underway.
- KMC faces scrutiny over contractor oversight.
Kolkata, Feb 3 (NationPress) Alimuddin Sheikh, a contractor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), was apprehended on Monday for employing three workers in manual scavenging activities, which tragically resulted in their deaths on Sunday morning.
The individuals were tasked with the cleaning and maintenance of a sewerage drain pipe located within the Bantala leather complex on the eastern outskirts of the city.
In addition to this, serious allegations have emerged against Alimuddin Sheikh from the families of the deceased.
They allege that the contractor enticed the three now deceased workers with promises of employment in real estate construction, thereby persuading them to migrate to Kolkata from their home districts.
However, the families claim that rather than being assigned construction tasks, they were forced into scavenging and manual cleaning of KMC drainage systems.
The police are set to investigate why Sheikh exploited the poverty and lack of awareness of these three men regarding the extreme dangers associated with scavenging and drain cleaning.
Nevertheless, a pertinent question arises: does the responsibility of the KMC conclude with the arrest of an outsourced contractor?
There are also concerns regarding how the authorities of the largest civic entity in West Bengal can evade accountability for ensuring their outsourced contractors are not engaging workers in prohibited hazardous jobs without adhering to minimum safety standards.
Although KMC officials have declared a compensation of Rs 10,00,000 for each victim's family, doubts persist as to whether monetary compensation can truly make up for the loss of lives.
The situation is further complicated by a recent ruling from a Bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, which imposed a comprehensive ban on manual scavenging and sewage cleaning in six major metropolitan cities, including Kolkata.
The Apex Court has mandated the heads of the six municipal bodies in these cities to submit an affidavit to the court by February 13, detailing the actions taken to eradicate this practice and the timeline for its complete cessation in their respective cities.
With the next court hearing scheduled for February 19, insiders at KMC anticipate that the authorities may face tough and uncomfortable inquiries during this session.
