Govt will provide equipment to sweepers for sewerage chamber cleaning: Gehlot

Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the state government will provide adequate equipment and make requisite arrangements to ensure that no sweeper has to enter sewerage chambers to clean them.

Cleaning sewerage chambers without adequate protective gear is a problem in the entire country and many times, sweepers have lost their lives in the process, Gehlot said.

"It is a matter of concern and pain for all of us when a person dies while cleaning a sewer chamber," Gehlot said while addressing a programme on cleanliness. "In Rajasthan, our government will provide equipment for sewerage chamber cleaning so that no one has to die. There will be no constraint of money for this purpose," he said.

He directed officials to make a work plan for this and implement it within a year. The chief minister said Mahatma Gandhi had dreamt about a clean and pure India and always thought about the welfare of the person sitting in the last row.

"Our government is working according to the ideals and principles of Mahatma Gandhi," he said, while calling upon the youngsters to read the biography of Mahatma Gandhi to bring positive changes in their lives.

Gehlot said Gandhi was against the practice of manual scavenging. He said the practice has been eradicated and also asked people to provide information to officers concerned if they see anyone doing it.

The chief minister said the government will strengthen door-to-door waste collection. He also honoured sweepers at the event.

Minister for Art and Culture B D Kalla, Jaipur mayor Vishnu Lata and others were present on the occasion.

Catch the latest news, live coverage and in-depth analyses from India and World. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.