State Training for Master Trainers on Health and Safety of Sanitation Workers during COVID-19 crisis

Date: May 27, 2020

In this COVID-19 pandemic, PSU has been supporting the state of Uttar Pradesh in COVID-19 response. In its support to the state, Programme Support Unit in collaboration with Technical Support Unit has launched a COVID-19 awareness campaign in cities of Chunar, Bijnor and Lucknow. Two key components of the campaign are training and sensitization of sanitation workers and generating awareness of public with focus on vulnerable groups that include low-income settlements, elderly and children.

The campaign includes many activities in which State level training of master trainers was one of the component. The training was attended by Sanitary inspectors/supervisors of Chunar, Bijnor and Lucknow, Engineers from Up Jal Nigam and others engaged in or responsible for coordinating activities of sanitation workers or safai karamcharis.

The training commenced with a welcome note and context setting of the training by S.K. Rohilla, Senior Director, CSE. Moving further, Rahul Mankotia, Programme Manager, CSE enlightened the participants about the various guidelines related to health and safety of sanitation workers during COVID-19 issued by different ministries and departments including Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Central Pollution Control Board. He also briefed everyone about the SOP prepared by CSE that covers all the guidelines. In addition, he also made aware everyone about the simple illustrative COVID-19 pocketbook, made by CSE, available in English and Hindi for sanitation workers.

Satyabrat Singh, Zonal Incharge, Lucknow briefed everyone how they are adhering to the guidelines while working in hotspot areas of Lucknow. Govind Chaudhary, SFI, Bijnor requested CSE to provide on ground training/orientation to the sanitation works especially to illiterates and women in Bijnor.

Moving ahead, Bhitush Luthra, Programme Manager, CSE gave a presentation on specific precautions to be followed by different sanitation workers including vacuum tanker operators, STP/FSTP operators, Door-to-Door waste collectors, CT/PT operators and drain cleaners.

During the discussion session, Ashish Srivastava, CSFI, Lucknow enquired about any specific guidelines for migrant labours quarantined in quarantine centres. Satyabrat Singh asked whether there are any specific guidelines for COVID-19 testing of sanitation workers.

The training was concluded after the discussion session.

Sancheta Mishra, SFI, Lucknow said, “It was a great learning experience for us on a new platform”. Feedback from the all the participants was very positive and appreciated the efforts of CSE in conducting the online training.

  

Course Coordinator:

Mr. Rahul Mankotia
Programme Manager
Programme Support Unit – DoUD (GoUP) Lucknow
mobile: +91 98680 18045
Email: rahul.mankotia@cseindia.org

Training Director:

Dr. Suresh Kumar Rohilla
Senior Director, CSE
Academic Director, School of Water & Waste, AAETI
Email: srohilla@cseindia.org