PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has decided to make police verification mandatory for all drivers and helpers engaged in its door-to-door solid waste collection system following complaints about the involvement of workers from outside States and individuals with questionable backgrounds.
The civic body has written to the police seeking verification of all personnel deployed in the waste collection service and directed contracted agencies to furnish complete details of their workforce. The MCD covers 100 wards, where nearly 280 door-to-door waste collection vehicles operate daily. Each vehicle is generally operated by a driver and a helper, who collect waste from thousands of households across the city.
The waste collection system is currently managed by multiple agencies. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) operate in 57 wards, Sunlight Waste Management handles 25 wards, NGOs manage 15 wards, while the remaining wards are serviced directly by the MCD.
Official sources said that the corporation has received repeated complaints alleging that some waste collection workers are from Bihar and West Bengal. There have also been allegations that suspected Bangladeshi nationals and individuals with criminal backgrounds may be working as drivers or helpers. However, these allegations have not been officially verified.
As a precautionary measure, the civic body has now decided to conduct comprehensive police verification of all personnel engaged in the service. The MCD has asked all contracted companies, NGOs and SHGs to submit the names, permanent and present addresses, mobile numbers and identity details of every driver and helper. The information will subsequently be shared with the police for background verification.
Chief municipal health officer Dr Anand Shukla said that the initiative is aimed at strengthening public safety and accountability. “Door-to-door waste collection vehicles visit thousands of households every day. Therefore, it is essential that every driver and helper is properly verified. We have written to the police for verification and sought complete details of all personnel from the agencies concerned. Our objective is to ensure that no person with a suspicious or criminal background is engaged in this public-facing service. Action will also be taken against any agency that fails to provide the required information or violates the prescribed norms,” Shukla said.
