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Chennai, Oct 23 (IANS) In a welfare initiative aimed at improving the lives of sanitation workers, the Tamil Nadu government has announced several new measures, including a free daily meal scheme.
According to an official release, the Stalin government has approved providing free breakfast, lunch and dinner every day to the sanitation workers.
The scheme will be implemented under the Greater Chennai Corporation in the first phase, with plans to gradually expand it to other urban and local bodies.
The initiative will be overseen by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, which has issued a formal government order to this effect.
The announcement comes as part of a larger set of welfare decisions taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Stalin in mid-August.
Other measures include a new special program to address skin health problems faced by cleaning workers due to constant exposure to waste materials.
To ensure social security and financial assistance, the government has launched a compensation scheme of Rs 10 lakh to the families of sanitation workers who die while on duty.
Additionally, workers who wish to take up self-employment will be eligible for a subsidy of up to Rs 3.5 lakh, for which Rs 10 crore has been allocated.
Recognizing the importance of education, the state will also launch a new higher education scholarship scheme for children of sanitation workers.
For housing needs, the government is planning to build 30,000 new houses for sanitation workers who do not have houses in urban areas. In rural areas, sanitation workers will be given priority under the Kalaignar Kanavu Ilam Housing Scheme.
Additionally, a free insurance scheme of Rs 5 lakh will be launched to cover sanitation workers.
Local bodies have been directed to provide free breakfast to sanitation workers on regular basis as part of this comprehensive welfare initiative. Through these comprehensive programmes, the Government of Tamil Nadu aims to ensure the safety, dignity and long-term welfare of sanitation workers who are the backbone of the state’s public health and sanitation system.
–IANS
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