After the end of his term as the chairman of the State Sanitation Workers Commission, Bhagwat Prashad Makwana thanked former chief ministers BC Khanduri and Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ while also suggesting pension, grade pay, salary hikes and other measures for welfare of sanitation workers.
Speaking at a farewell function following the end of his three-year term on May 7, Makwana said that new posts created for the workers could not be filled as these were abolished by the 6th pay commission after which attempts were made to re-create the posts because of which problems were created in various other departments. He had raised this issue and other problems faced by sanitation workers in front of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and at a seminar in New Delhi. He rued that he was unable to ensure justice for sanitation workers because of the Government’s apathy. Stating that he would continue to work for the welfare of sanitation workers, Dalits and the labour class, Makwana also exhorted the work of the SSWC secretary Harak Singh Rawat and other workers. He requested the present Government to look into the problems faced by the workers.
The State Sanitation Workers Commission vice-chairman Ajay Rajaur whose term also ended on Wednesday could not attend the farewell function. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli praised the work done by Makwana for the welfare of the sanitation workers. The mayor also spoke about the problems faced by the workers while stressing on the need for measures to ensure the betterment of sanitation workers.