The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) has joined hands with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Nagpur, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to impart training to homeless and migrant labourers staying in Nagpur. Dr. Pratap Reddy Maddigapu, Project Scientist at the CSIR-NEERI, stated that a disinfection device based on Ultraviolet (UV)-C technology can be used to disinfect used masks, used hand gloves, papers, documents, files, etc. Homeless and migrant labourers, after giving them proper training, can be engaged in such disinfection activities for their livelihood, he added.

A meeting in this regard was held recently at CSIR-NEERI in the presence of Justice Abhijeet Deshmukh, Secretary, DLSA, and Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director, CSIR-NEERI. During the discussion, the participants emphasized that before the schools, colleges, hotels, etc. are reopened, all these institutions should be properly sanitized amid various unlocking phases, as many schools, especially government and zilla parishad schools, have been used to quarantine COVID-19 suspects and shelter migrant workers.

A disinfection device based on Ultraviolet (UV)-C technology can be used to disinfect used masks, used hand gloves, papers, documents, files, etc. Homeless and migrant labourers, after giving them proper training, can be engaged in such disinfection activities for their livelihood

Representatives from DLSA and NGOs pointed out that various government and private organizations will henceforth seek routine and standard environmental sanitization procedures, where CSIR-NEERI could play a major role in bringing out a policy document. CSIR-NEERI could also be instrumental in imparting sanitization training to homeless and migrant labourers for providing them employment opportunities.

CSIR-NEERI agreed to work with DLSA and NGOs for the betterment of homeless and migrant labourers, not only with respect to sanitization techniques but also for various environmental aspects having employment potential. Dr. Rakesh Kumar reiterated that an effective policy should be formulated for cleaning and disinfection of various places, wherever required. He emphasized on the need to bring out training material in three languages, i.e. English, Marathi, and Hindi.

Dr. Suvha Lama, Scientist, CSIR-NEERI, explained on how to clean and disinfect the workplaces. Dr. Shilpa Kumari, Scientist, CSIR-NEERI, informed that the institution had already imparted training to various NGOs on preparing reusable masks according to WHO guidelines. She also demonstrated various systems and devices by which disinfection can be done. India Science Wire