In line with the ongoing Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Central Government has initiated a significant training program aimed at enhancing the skills and safety of sanitation workers across the nation. Under the leadership of Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s (KDMC) Commissioner Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar, Additional Commissioner Harshal Gaikwad, and Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management Atul Patil, the municipal corporation, in collaboration with the Divyaswapna Foundation, organized a capacity building training workshop on solid waste management and personal health safety.

The workshop was held as part of the Swachh Survekshan 2024 initiative and commenced on January 6, 2025.

The primary goal of the training is to empower sanitation workers with essential knowledge on the proper management of solid waste, personal health and safety protocols, the correct usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and preventive measures for work-related diseases.

Additionally, workers were educated about the various government schemes available to them, which aim to improve their working conditions and welfare.

The training, conducted on a ward-wise basis, ensures that both male and female sanitation workers understand their critical role in maintaining cleanliness and their personal health.

The Dombivli division, covering wards H, C, F, E, and I, has completed its training sessions, which took place from January 6 to January 10, 2025, at Anand Dighe Hall, Dombivli East. During these sessions, two outstanding workers from each ward were honoured with certificates and gifts for their exemplary performance.

The program also involved the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to five sanitation workers from each ward. Key officials such as Chief Sanitation Officer Vasant Deglurkar, Deputy Chief Sanitation Inspector Augustine Ghute, and other sanitation officers from the Dombivli division attended the training sessions, helping to guide and encourage the workers.

So far, approximately 800 sanitation workers have participated in the training, which is being facilitated by the Divyaswapna Foundation. Trainers from the foundation, including Shivraj Jadhav, Aishwarya Joshi, and Amar Lokhande, have been instrumental in delivering the content effectively.

From January 13, 2025, training sessions will continue for workers in Kalyan West at Acharya Atre Rangmandir, and the B ward training camp has already concluded. Further training sessions are scheduled for other wards as part of the comprehensive program to enhance the capacity of sanitation workers and their contribution to the Swachh Bharat mission.