During the COVID-19 pandemic, sanitation workers in the state worked in hazardous conditions, collecting biomedical waste, transporting infected patients, and even cremating the dead. In Nagpur alone, 54 sanitation workers lost their lives, yet their families are still waiting for the compensation promised by the state. The government had assured ₹50 lakh per family, but only two families have received any aid, while 52 remain without support. Instead of fulfilling its commitment, the state allocated only ₹2 crore for the entire state as per a Government Resolution (GR) dated February 28th this year, making each family’s share negligible.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) stepped in, sanctioning ₹10 lakh per family from its own limited funds. A committee led by Municipal Commissioner Dr. Abhijeet Chaudhari approved payments to 32 families. However, this remains interim relief, and families still await the full ₹50 lakh compensation. Most belong to economically weaker sections and lack the resources to fight legal battles.
Across Maharashtra, similar neglect persists. Between 2017 and 2021, 30 sewer workers lost their lives, but only 11 families received compensation. The NMC Karmachari Sanghatana had to approach the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur Bench, yet bureaucratic delays persist.
The state government must act now. It must disburse the promised compensation, offer jobs to dependents, and secure financial stability for the deceased workers’ families. These workers sacrificed their lives for public health—their families deserve justice, not indifference
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