The Department of Welfare of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Castes (OBCs) has awarded a compensation of Rs 4,12,500 to the family of the deceased sanitation worker Vishal, who had died after entering the sewage treatment plant (STP) in a private housing society in Moti Nagar area in West Delhi. Delhi Government has further sanctioned a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the five deceased persons. Vishal's family was provided with additional compensation under the SC/ST Act .
The incident had taken place on 9th September of this year at DLF capital green housing complex situated near Moti Nagar, where a total of five labourers died after entering into the sewer tank. As per the Delhi Police, the workers forced to do the job of manual scavenging even though it is banned and also the supervisors who asked the labourers to clean the STP did not provided any safety equipment.
However, the department of Welfare of SC/ST and OBC released the additional amount of Rs.4,12,500 as compensation to the father of the deceased Vishal after a meeting of permanent standing committee was convened to decide the compensation under rule 12(4) of the SC/ST (Prevention of atrocities) amendment rules 2016.
"It has been observed that out of five labourers only one person namely late Vishal s/o Birbal belonged to the SC category. The issue was discussed in the meeting and on the recommendations of the permanent standing committee, an amount of Rs 4,12,500 (50 % of total applicable amount of Rs 8,25,000) was sanctioned and released to the father of the deceased)," read the action taken report submitted by the public grievances of Welfare of SC/ST and OBC.
The officials further added that the balance amount will be decided and released after the charge sheet will be submitted to the court. "The compensation is given as per the existing centrally sponsored scheme. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) West district informed in the meeting that the charge sheet has not been sent to the court in this matter," added the official further.