16 local bodies yet to provide safety gear to green volunteers

Harithakarma Sena yet to resume collection of refuse, they say

A section of the local bodies in Ernakulam has not yet complied with a directive issued by the Local Self-Government Department to provide adequate safety gear to Harithakarma Sena volunteers involved in the collection of non-biodegradable waste from households and commercial establishments. Sixteen local bodies in the district were found to be lagging behind in providing personal protection equipment to green volunteers, according to an assessment by officials of the department. However, the majority of these local bodies claimed that they had not provided the gear as Harithakarma Sena members were yet to resume doorstep collection of waste materials after the second wave of the pandemic. An order issued by the department had asked the secretaries of local bodies to provide N95 masks, good quality hand gloves, face shields and sanitisers to green volunteers. The local bodies have to provide training to those involved in the doorstep collection of waste on COVID protocol. They need to be provided with at least three pairs of uniform.