'Action against civic bodies not paying increased salaries to

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis today said stringent action would be taken against civic bodies which who do not pay increased salaries to sanitation workers.

"It has come to our notice that sanitation workers were not paid increased salaries by Corporations, Municipalities and panchayats and a portion of the amount was swindled by contractors," Commission member Jagadish Hiremani told reporters here.

He said stringent action would be taken against those responsible.

Hiremani said the commission has recommended to the Government that sanitation workers be appointed in the ratio of 500:1.

Hiremani, who was here to inspect progress on a survey on human waste collection, said that depending on the success of a model in Kerala, where robots are used for the purpose, the Centre would be requested to replicate it in other parts of the country.