T.N. Cabinet approves free breakfast, medical treatment, other aid for conservancy workers in urban local bodies

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Thursday (August 14, 2025), approved six proposals aimed at the welfare of conservancy workers in the State, including free breakfast, medical treatment, housing, increased solatium, subsidy for entrepreneurship, and education assistance for their children. The development comes the morning after protesting conservancy workers of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) were evicted and detained from outside Ripon Building on Wednesday (August 13).

Since the work of conservancy workers commences early in the morning and they face challenges in getting breakfast, the State government would provide free breakfast through urban local bodies, the government stated. The initiative would be rolled out in the GCC initially, and would be expanded to other urban local bodies.

Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister at the Secretariat, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said that a new programme would identify the occupational hazards faced by conservancy workers and provide them with medical treatment.

In addition to the assistance extended to registered members of the Tamil Nadu Cleanliness Workers Welfare Board, the State government has decided to extend an insurance cover for ₹5 lakh, thereby taking the total compensation in case of accidental death of a conservancy worker at work to ₹10 lakh to the family, the Minister said.

Aiming to improve the socio-economic conditions of conservancy workers and their family members, the Tamil Nadu government would also extend a 35% subsidy to the project outlay (upto ₹3.50 lakh) for entrepreneurship and also provide an interest subsidy of 6% if the interest was paid on time. A sum of ₹10 crore would be allocated every year in this regard.

In addition to the assistance provided to the children of conservancy workers for higher education, the State government will implement a new programme to cover their hostel and book fees, the Minister said.

To provide housing facilities for conservancy workers, the Tamil Nadu government will construct 30,000 houses within three years in urban areas for those who do not have their own home. Assistance would also be provided to them for housing facilities, including in-situ options, through the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board.

In rural areas, conservancy workers will be made beneficiaries of the ‘Kalaignar Kanavu Illam’ programme, and they would be given priority in the allocation of these housing units, Mr. Thennarasu said.

Appeal to workers

Responding to a query on the demands of the workers and their detention by the police, the Minister said that cases in this regard were pending before the Madras High Court and the labour tribunal. “There have been about 12 rounds of talks involving Ministers and the Mayor. The government’s doors are always open for talks.” Mr. Thennarasu recalled the steps being undertaken for their welfare by the Chief Minister and further appealed to them to return to duty on behalf of the State government.