NFN held a discussion and consultation about the occupational environment, security and health of the sanitation workers. The event was organized in Kathmandu on 24 March 2022 in collaboration with WaterAid and Nepal SDGs Forum. This was a part of the civil society initiatives for the achievement of SDG 6.2 in which welfare of sanitation workers is integral. It was an effort to understand from the sanitation workers themselves about their concerns in the first place and then the policies and actions of the concerned agencies. Urban Environment Specialists from Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Chief Administrative Officer from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Senior Divisional Engineer from Ministry of Water Supply and Department of Water Supply, Engineer from Department of Labor and Occupational Safety International Labor Organizations (ILO) and private sector sanitation worker shared their actions and initiatives. Likewise, media persons and CSO workers have shared their observations. NFN's Vice Chairperson Bhawana Bhatta welcomed the participants and shed light on the context and objectives of the program. Pradeep Amatya, Urban Environment Specialists from Lalitpur Metropolitan City presented on occupational safety health facilities provided to the sanitary workers by Lalitpur Metropolitan city. Sarita Rai, environment department chief from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, shared about the facilities provided to the sanitary workers by the metropolis looking at the risk, insurance and job security Uddhav Bhattarai, Program Manager of Lumanti shared his observation that came through their engagement in the sanitation sector. Yogendra Chitrakar, Senior Divisional Engineer of Ministry of Water Supply expressed his views that sanitation workers are the main actors of the society but they are behind the scene. He said Nepal Government being on the scene is working on the safety management of the sanitation workers. Prativa Gautam from Department of Labor and Occupational Safety stressed the initiatives taken by Department of Labor and Occupational Safety for the sanitation workers. Department has opened the OSH training center in Bhanisepati. Department runs 7 days training for the sanitation workers like how to use PPE. She shared the legal provisions which can be utilized in terms of sanitation workers. Swagat Raj Pandey, National Project Coordinator at ILO said adequate research and study has not been done in the areas of sanitation workers because invisibility of this work is a major problem. Ratna Prasad Lamichhane, Senior Divisional Engineer of Ministry of Water Supply, said there are 13 different types of sanitation workers but they are not categorized in the policy. So, categorization of sanitation workers is necessary. Baburam Ghimire, Treasurer from NEPCEMAC shared about his experience in the field of sanitation. He said that the private sector organizations have not been able to work much for the safety and security of sanitation workers while such organizations themselves are not sustainable. Bishnu Thakali who represented a CSO working on sanitation management suggested that the waste management must start from each household and septic tank should be made mandatory for construction of houses. It was obvious that sanitation workers go through some of the most vulnerable and hazardous situations but their safety, identity and dignity is compromised and ignored. Clear laws and guidelines are unavailable and the existing programs do not address the changing situations in which sanitation workers work. Concerned officials and representatives have realized and committed to policies and actions. NFN will continue to the agenda as this was one of the neglected areas. The meeting was chaired by NFN's president Ram Prasad Subedi and facilitated by Secretary General Arjun Bhattarai and Executive Director Hum Bhandari.
NewsNational