2 days ago
Monsoon Shield: NMC distributes safety kits to sanitation workers
Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) launched a city-wide drive to equip its sanitation workers — known as 'Swachhta Doots' — with essential safety gear ahead of monsoon.
Often working in hazardous and unsanitary conditions, these frontline workers are now receiving protective kits aimed at safeguarding their health during the rainy season.
Acting on the directives of municipal commissioner and administrator Abhijeet Chaudhari, and under the guidance of additional commissioner Vasumana Pant, the initiative is being implemented across all 10 zones of the city. The drive is being supervised by deputy commissioner Rajesh Bhagat and chief sanitation officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle, with special funds allocated for the effort.
The kits include masks, rubber and cloth hand gloves, high-visibility jackets, and gumboots — each tailored to tackle monsoon-specific challenges like waterlogging, slippery surfaces, and increased exposure to disease-causing pathogens. Distribution is being carried out in a phased, zone-wise manner, covering not only the core zones but also high-risk areas like the Bhandewadi dumping yard, nallah cleaning units, shelter homes, and the municipal slaughterhouse.
Laxmi Nagar, Hanuman Nagar, Dhantoli, Sataranjipura, Ashi Nagar, and Mangalwari each received 1,280 masks, while zones like Dharampeth, Gandhibagh, and Lakadganj were given 640 each. Additional supplies were sent to Nehru Nagar, NMC headquarters, and field sanitation workers. Thousands of gloves were also distributed, with Nehru Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, and Sataranjipura receiving over 2,000 pairs each. Safety jackets were dispatched in batches ranging from 100 to 400 per zone, and gumboots were prioritised for areas prone to flooding and waste exposure.
Sanitation workers, often invisible yet indispensable to the city's hygiene system, face increased health hazards during the monsoon. NMC's gesture is being seen as both a practical intervention and a symbolic recognition of their vital role. One worker remarked, "We are used to working without expecting much. But receiving these items before the rains gives us the feeling that someone is thinking about our safety too.
It matters."
By prioritising the well-being of its sanitation force, the NMC not only ensured preparedness for monsoon-related challenges but also underlined the value of those who work tirelessly to keep Nagpur clean.
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