The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has named a new leadership team for the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), the statutory body that works on behalf of manual scavengers and sanitation workers. Five officials have been appointed to lead the Commission, effective immediately until 31 March 2028.
Who has been appointed and their background
Shri Bhagwat Prasad Makwana has been made Chairperson. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and has worked extensively on Scheduled Caste welfare. He previously led the Safai Karamchari Commission in Uttarakhand and has served on the board of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) as an Independent Director. He was also a Member of the Central Monitoring Committee under the manual scavenging prohibition law of 2013.
Shri Kaishab Bihari takes the role of Vice-Chairperson. A farmer from Odisha with a Master’s in Economics, he has been involved in grassroots organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized groups.
Three Members have been appointed:
- Shri Manoj Kumar Balmiki, an entrepreneur who served on the Uttar Pradesh State Safai Karamchari Commission from 2019 to 2022
- Smt. Sushma Gaudiyal, a Professor of Hindi at Bareilly College with a Ph.D. from Kumaun University, who has researched Dalit literature and women’s empowerment
- Shri Ravi Ramu Kalose, a retired municipal engineer who has worked on safai karamchari welfare and grievance redressal
What this means for you
If you work as a manual scavenger or sanitation worker across India, this new Commission will now handle complaints about your rights and welfare. The team brings experience in administration, social work, and advocacy for disadvantaged communities. The appointment aims to strengthen the Commission’s ability to protect your dignity, enforce your legal rights, and ensure you can access government welfare schemes meant for your protection and rehabilitation.