Why in News?

• The National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) has issued advisory to municipalities, panchayats urging them to ensure that all sanitation workers are provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in order to safeguard them from the current Pandemic.

Highlights of the Advisory:

• There should be mandatory orientation for sanitation workers on Covid-19, social distancing norms and precautionary measures.
• All local bodies were asked to put in place a standard operating procedure for the safety of sanitation staff.
• The local bodies were asked to provide equipment, including masks, gloves, gumboots and jackets, as well as soaps and hand sanitisers for helping Maintain Hygiene.

About National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC):

• NSKFDC is a wholly owned Government of India Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• It is an apex Corporation for the all round socio-economic up-liftment of the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependents throughout India, through various loan and non-loan based schemes.
• It was set up in 1997 as a “Not for Profit” Company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013).
• NSKFDC is also playing a vital role in elimination of manual scavenging – the worst surviving symbol of untouchability.