Team Herald
Margao: Carmona sarpanch Allwyn George has expressed surprise over the low daily wages paid to workers hired to handle garbage.
He said while the government pushes panchayats to perform on garbage management front to comply with Solid Waste Management Rules, no action is forthcoming from the DoP to hike the daily wages of the persons hired for handling garbage.
“We have a dearth of labourers for garbage collection and sorting the same. There are practically no takers for Rs 350 per day salary in today’s world considering the cost of living. We generate funds for the purpose but our efforts have hit a roadblock due to the daily wage issue,” Allwyn claimed.
“Former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar and ex-Director of Panchayat Rajan had promised to raise the minimum wages but till date nothing has happened,” Allwyn said.
“By clipping the powers of the panchayats in issuing licenses and occupancy certificates in the guise of non-compliance of SWM rules, today the panchayats have been made rubber stamps to deliver orders from higher ups,” the sarpanch alleged.
“The need of the hour is immediate amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act taking into account the ground realities and actual feedback from the sarpanchas on the drawbacks of the obsolete Act. Unfortunately, no local is forthcoming to take up this job due to the health hazard and social stigma involved. It is quite surprising as to why restrictions are not issued to municipalities as well” Allwyn added.
