Odisha Launches ‘Garima’ Scheme For Sanitation Workers; Corpus Fund of Rs 50cr to be set up

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on Friday, launched the ‘Garima’ scheme for the welfare of the state’s sanitation workers. The Chief Minister also announced that a state commission will be set up for the sanitation workers with a corpus fund of Rs 50 crore in the initial phase.

The scheme will be implemented by the state Department of Urban Development and Housing in all 117 municipalities in the state. It will benefit 100,000 households, including 20,000 sanitation workers.

Today HCM @Naveen_Odisha will launch #GARIMA, scheme for safety and dignity of Core Sanitation Workers. #Odisha’s exemplary initiative to correct the generational neglect and injustice.#TransformingUrbanOdisha #TransformingthelivesofCoreSanitationWorkers pic.twitter.com/4owraQGuew

— H & UD Dept (@HUDDeptOdisha) September 11, 2020

The ‘Garima’ scheme focuses on identifying employees engaged in hazardous sanitation as well as their safety and dignity in Odisha. To honor their work, special allowances, including health benefits, life insurance, higher education for children, housing and, personal safety equipment, will be provided.

Speaking on the occasion, Urban Development Minister Shri Pratap Jena said that Odisha was the first state in the country to implement the scheme for sanitation workers.