Bengaluru: Daivadeenam, 53, employee of Mission Chinmaya Hospital (CMH) who was forced to clean the hole, had been treated in the ICU from the same hospital after experiencing trouble breathing, unstable blood pressure and other complications.
Chairman of the State Commission Karnataka for Safai Karamcharis visited the hospital on Thursday – two days after TII reported the story – to record the situation.
Police, who registered a criminal case against hospitals and two personnel, were investigating this case.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ulsoor, Kumar, said it would be inappropriate to reveal the details of the ongoing investigation.
“…
there is progress but it can only be disclosed after the whole process is complete,” he told toi.
Gopal B Hosur, Chief Executive Officer, Chinmaya Mission Hospital, declined to comment or outlining the incident that was delayed in the investigation.
However, he said: “The hospital will work with legal authority to help them arrive at conclusions.” The CMH source said that Daivadeenam, who was still undergoing treatment, saw his health deteriorate as soon as he was forced to clear the hospital sewer.
M Shivanna, Chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Safai Karamcharis, said: “I have instructed the ACP commissioner and assistant, who is also the division judge of the area, to take strict action.” Sanitation workers pay a large price of Karamcharis and TOI activists speak to assert that while death is the final price of paying sanitation workers, respiratory disorders and other serious health problems consistently result in their inpatient care.
“My medical bill is very high and endless.
I have more debt than Rs 4 Lakh because of this,” Satish Jr.
said, a sanitation worker contracted with BWSSB.
Workers say they mostly suffer from pneumoconiosis, silicosis, various skin and eye infections because of the dangerous nature and damage their work.
“Some deaths occur when they are at work, but most of these workers die earlier because of severe health complications caused and exacerbated by illegal practice,” said S Balan, an advocate representing sanitation workers contracted with the water council.
Other activists say the life expectancy of the average sanitation workers involved in a manual recipulation is estimated at 40-50 years.
BWSSB workers have been told not to clean the septic tanks connected to the person’s personal toilet.
The reason: hydro-jetting machines cannot be used in the walls of the house because it can damage the engine.
“However, people call uncontrolled individuals or private businesses to clean their tanks and these workers are people who die in most cases,” Balan said.