Staff Correspondent 
The government is working under the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ensure that sanitation workers can live with dignity and enjoy equal rights in society, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shah Alam has said.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a financial assistance distribution programme for Telugu- and Kanpuri-speaking sanitation worker families under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), organised on the occasion of Durga Puja.
The assistance was distributed on behalf of the Prime Minister at two separate programmes held at the Dayaganj sanitation workers’ residential complex in the capital on Monday afternoon.
The state minister said the government would take swift steps to implement proposals for constructing modern flats or apartments to address the housing crisis faced by sanitation workers. He also assured that necessary measures would be taken to create employment opportunities for educated but unemployed young men and women from sanitation worker families.
He said that, under the Prime Minister’s special humanitarian directive, each of 680 Telugu- and Kanpuri-speaking sanitation worker families had received Tk 2,000 to share in the festivities of Durga Puja. Special financial assistance was also provided to two local temples serving the communities.
Mir Shah Alam further announced plans to construct two new residential buildings in Dayaganj and another 17 buildings in other areas under Dhaka South City Corporation to address the housing shortage among sanitation workers.
He added that the government had arranged free medical treatment for sanitation workers and a one-time grant of Tk 400,000 for the family of any worker who dies.
The programme was chaired by DSCC Administrator Md. Abdus Salam. Among those present were the corporation’s chief waste management officer, the relevant regional executive officer, local leaders and representatives of the Telugu and Kanpuri communities.
In his presidential address, Md. Abdus Salam highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the city corporation for the welfare of sanitation workers and extended Durga Puja greetings to all.
