PMC Safai Karmcharis to don Khadi uniform

Vivek Hari

Patna : Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to purchase customised Khadi uniform sets from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for its 4,000 men and women Safai Karmacharis. The PMC is likely to sign a three-year-agreement with KVIC for supply of Khadi and village industries products. Earlier, those karmacharis used to wear uniforms made of terry-cotton, which was not good for their health and skin.

On June 19 this year, PMC Commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman had requested the KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena for providing Khadi uniform sets for its men and women sanitation workers. KVIC Chairman had sent some of his officials to Patna with the samples to get it approved from the competent authorities in the PMC.

The PMC not only approved the samples, it also raised a demand letter on June 30 for supply of Khadi uniform sets for its 4,000 men and women safai karmacharis including 8,000 sets of shirt and pant (for men), 8,000 sets of salwar kurta (for women), 4,000 pairs of sandals, 4,000 pairs of shoes/boots and 4,000 pieces of cap, by August 15 this year. Besides, the PMC has also signed a three-year agreement with KVIC for a regular supply of materials including the supply of woolen Khadi clothes during the winter season, according to a KVIC release.

KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena is happy that Mahatma Gandhi’s Khadi is reaching upcountry local self bodies from Bihar. “To me, it is like a fittest tribute to the Father of Nation ahead of his 150^th Birthday celebrations from Bihar – a land of Champaran from where he kicked off his journey as Mahatma – to have a unique conversion with a local self body. The value of this order, approximately Rs 2 Crore, is immaterial with respect to Khadi being attire of safai karmacharis – one of the most lovable lots of Mahatma Gandhi since his days in South Africa,” he said.

PMC will be issuing 4,000 of its workers 2 sets of 2-piece uniform from August, according to PMC Commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman. The workers will get the uniform every 6 months, he said. PMC is gearing up to celebrate its  establishment day in style on August 15. Deputy Commissioner, PMC, Vishal Anand said that procuring the work order  is enough for now to have the uniforms issued to the workers.