Odisha welcomes Jhunulata Naik, first certified woman desludger in Kataka

Odisha has marked a notable step in worker empowerment as Jhunulata Naik from Kataka stepped forward as the state’s first certified woman desludger. Once struggling as a single parent cleaning nursing home toilets to raise her seven-year-old son, she transitioned into a skilled profession through specialized training organized by the Kataka Municipal Corporation under the state’s flagship GARIMA initiative.

Historically, manual sanitation tasks in Indian municipalities have posed severe health risks and social stigmas, making mechanized training and structured welfare programs essential for long-term reform.

Equipped with standard safety gear, proper uniforms, and professional machinery, Naik now manages onsite sanitation systems with technical skill and steady pay. This shift provides her with financial independence, professional dignity, and the resources needed to fund her child’s higher education.

Odisha continues to expand protections for core sanitation staff through institutional reforms. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently approved dedicated life insurance coverage and ex-gratia compensation for personnel handling hazardous tasks.

Building on these protective measures, the state will host the 2nd National GARIMA Conclave on August 22, 2026. The upcoming event centers on "Mission Zero: Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work," aiming to eliminate workplace hazards completely through improved mechanization and preventative safety protocols across all urban local bodies.