MMC sets into motion process to procure gloves, masks for daily-wage workers who contracted infections at Sonsoddo

Team Herald

MARGAO: A day after 

O Heraldo highlighted the plight of the daily-wage workers who ‘paid the price’ after contracting infections for working in unhygienic conditions at Sonsoddo, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday initiated the process to procure gloves and masks at the earliest, with the head of the sanitation committee demanding separate medical allowances for these workers.

Speaking to O Heraldo, sanitation committee chairman and councillor Camilo Barretto said that after visiting Sonsoddo, he came to know about the workers’ plight as he found them working in unhygienic conditions. 

O Heraldo on its Wednesday’s edition dated March 8, 2023, had highlighted the workers’ plight wherein nearly 30 daily wage workers at Sonsoddo literally cried for help as their pleas with regards to safety measures fell on deaf ears. These workers have contracted the infection and are suffering from diseases as they have been handling hazardous waste without gloves, masks 

and gumboots. 

Camilo said, “Being daily wage workers, the municipality cannot risk their lives. It is the duty of the civic body to provide them with all the safety equipment at regular intervals”. 

“We must keep in mind that they too are human beings,” said Camilo. 

He said that the civic body must be grateful to them as there is a shortage of workers and nobody is ready to work at Sonsoddo. 

“Keeping in mind the conditions they work in, these workers deserve separate medical allowances,” he stated. 

Camilo also informed O Heraldo that he will raise this issue before the chairperson and chief officer, besides at the Council’s ordinary meeting. 

Reliable sources informed that the section of the civic body has initiated the process to purchase and provide gloves and masks at the earliest. 

Former MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho said that it is rather unfortunate to see how the Margao Municipal Council exploits its daily wage workers, pampers its permanent workers.

“Even in the past there have been cases wherein the workers developed infection after sustain cuts or got pricked after coming in contact with syringe needles. One such worker was terminated from services because he remained absent during treatment,” he said. 

Coutinho said, “The Council didn’t even care to provide the bare minimum medical expenses and the worker lost his all important wages as he could not report on duty.”