Two years after it made waves with the “Khalasi” number, highlighting the life of a sailor on Gujarat shores, the latest Coke Studio Bharat song by Aditya Gadhvi has put a spotlight over another unsung heroes of the state – the salt-pan workers or Agariya.Titled Meetha Khara (sweet and salty), the release of the song, which also features Madhubanti Bagchi and Thanu Khan, comes close on the heels of the advent of the salt-cultivation season that kicks off in September, around Navratri.The community also found mention in the recently concluded Monsoon Session with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Gujarat Assembly making several recommendations to the state government for their welfare.In its most salient recommendation, the PAC has recommended that the Gujarat government should carry out an extensive survey within two months and list the facilities available to salt-pan workers and those that the salt-cultivating districts of Gujarat lack.The committee made the recommendations in its fifth report which was tabled and accepted in the state assembly last week.The PAC is headed by former minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Bhavnagar West constituency Jitendra Vaghani. The report, with reference to findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report of 2018-19 on the issues related to salt-pan workers in the state, was tabled before the Assembly on September 10.With reference to the queries of the Committee, in its written reply, the Industries and Mines Department had stated that it has given instructions to district industry centres (DIC) to carry out coordinated survey and to prepare a central database in cooperation with the departments concerned through District-Level Empowered Committee (DLEC). In response, the PAC has recommended that the department carries out an extensive survey for salt-pan workers in salt-cultivating districts. The findings must be submitted in two months, the PAC recommended, adding that matters coming to the fore during the survey should be swiftly acted upon.The population of salt-pan workers in Gujarat is spread over 16 districts of the state, which include the coastal districts and inland districts of Banaskantha, Patan and Surendranagar. As per Agariya Heet-Rakshak Manch, a leading organisation working for the empowerment of salt-pan workers, the population of Agariyas in Gujarat is estimated at around 85,000.In its report, the PAC has also made several other recommendations on issues concerning the salt-pan workers such as financial management, drinking water supply, road facility, facility of residence and facilities related to health and education etc.On financial management, the Committee has recommended to ensure that 100% funds allocated for the welfare of salt-pan workers is utilised through minute planning. The recommendation came in the wake of CAG’s finding that between 2014-15 and 2017-18, grant of around Rs 35 crore meant for various welfare schemes for salt-pan workers remained unused for different reasons.Story continues below this adAvailability of drinking waterThe PAC also inquired about a note in the CAG report related to availability of drinking water in salt-pan areas. It posed a query to a representative of Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) as to what percentage of salt-pan areas were yet to be provided water. In reply, the GSWWB representative informed the committee that they did not have that data, adding that the board has made efforts in that direction following which some schemes could be activated.The committee recommended that uninterrupted supply of drinking water should be ensured in areas having significant presence of salt-pan workers.The CAG had probed into the dilapidated condition of roads in salt pan areas of Bhavnagar, Amreli and Kutch district leading to impact on health facilities being provided to salt-pan workers. Inquiring into CAG’s findings and taking “serious” note of a response from the representative of Roads & Buildings department that the work on roads leading to salt pans in Bhavnagar district will be carried out soon, the PAC recommended to build quality roads leading to salt pans and its periodic maintenance.Matter of residenceTaking note of “adverse” and “harsh” climate in salt pans and expressing concerns for the Agariyas’ residence, the Committee has recommended to ensure that the salt-pan workers are provided “steady” residence at their work place and if it is not possible, then tents, which are durable and strong against harsh weather, should be made available. It also recommended to ensure that there should be a condition in orders of giving salt pans on lease to salt units that the salt-pan workers be provided proper residence at the salt-pan-on-lease itself.Story continues below this adOn the health front, the PAC recommended to ensure that there is at least one Mobile Health Unit in each of the 16 districts of the state having a population of salt-pan workers. Also, to allay malnutrition in women salt-pan workers and their children, the committee recommended to have as many mobile Rann Anganwadis as possible with necessary staff.For the education of children of salt-pan workers, the Committee recommended to widen the prevalence of the experimental scheme, School on Wheels. It also recommended establishing computer laboratories in schools of Surendranagar, Bhavnagar, Kutch and Amreli districts, where it is not functional, at the earliest.Improving financial stateTo improve the financial condition of the salt-pan workers, the PAC has recommended to ensure that they get finance on credit from nationalised banks or government financial institutions expeditiously and that they get a fair price for their cultivated salt.Welcoming the recommendations of the PAC, President of Agariya Heet-Rakshak Manch, Harinesh Pandya said, “The recommendations are very important. The salt-cultivation process is very dynamic. The number of people indulging in salt-cultivation changes in every season and so do their requirements. So, the government should develop a mechanism for its constant planning, monitoring and budget allocation as a continuous process. They should carry out the survey either in March-April or in September-October. The season starts around September after Navratri and ends around May.”Story continues below this adMinister of State for Salt Industries (Independent Charge) Jagdish Vishwakarma could not be reached for his comments.