Berhampur: Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) on Friday handed over the operation and maintenance (O&M) of its newly constructed second septage treatment plant (SeTP) to a transgender community.
A memorandum of wnderstanding (MoU) was signed between the BeMC and Bahuchora transgender self-help group (SHG) at the plant site. Berhampur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu, MLA Bikram Kumar Panda and BeMC mayor Sanghamitra Dalai were among those present.
The 10-member transgender group will be responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the 60 kilo litre/day capacity plant and will be managing entry of all cesspool vehicles for discharging faecal sludge as well as regular treatment and staff management. BeMC commissioner J Sonal said, “The O&M of the plant was entrusted to the transgender group for one year and it will be extended further after seeing their work.”
Sweety Sahu, president of the transgender group, said, “We have already been trained about the operation and maintenance of the plant. We are confident of successfully running the plant.”
Berhampur MP Sahu said, “The move is aimed at empowering the transgender community. This will help them to eke out their livelihood in a dignified manner.”
Sonal said, “The SeTP at Sitalapalli is BeMC’s second treatment plant that was constructed at an investment of Rs 3.50 crore.”
The first SeTP, with a capacity of 40 kilo litre/day, is located at Mahuda and is being successfully run by a SHG.
Courtesy : TOI
Note: This news piece was originally published in timesofindia.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights
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