Rural job scheme workers to clean TN government schools

The School Education Department has taken steps to implement the scheme this academic year.

The MGNREGS guarantees 100 days of employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. Accordingly, 80 lakh active MGNREGS workers in Tamil Nadu are engaged in various jobs in 31 districts of the state. At present, the workers are involved in solid waste management, renovation of traditional water bodies, tree plantation work among others.

“We will be utilising their (MGNREGS workers) services to carry out cleaning work in all government schools,” a senior official of the Education Department told DT Next recently. According to him, Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan has instructed the authorities to prepare a list of schools that should be cleaned and sanitised.

The official said there are about 50,000 government schools in Tamil Nadu, including primary, middle, high and higher secondary institutions.

“Earlier, the cleaning and sanitation work was done by private firms and local self-help groups,” he said adding, “However, it was felt that MGNREGS workers would benefit if the work was given to them.”

The official said the sanitation work would include cleaning of toilets, removal of bushes and unwanted plants in and around school premises and sweeping classrooms and dining halls.

However, technical work such as electrical fittings, maintenance of drinking water facilities and building maintenance will be done by private parties, appointed by the government.

“The work will be done on a regular basis. If the MGNREGS labourer’s 100 days of work is completed, they will be replaced by newly registered persons,” the official said.