With the southwest monsoon setting in, Erode Corporation has extended the service of domestic breeding checkers (DBCs) by two more months and has allocated ₹1.01 crore towards their wages and other statutory benefits.

According to the 2011 census, the city spans 109.52 sq.km and has a population of 4.98 lakh, encompassing 60 wards across four zones. There are 1,69,912 residential properties and 27,386 commercial establishments in the city. While over 1,000 conservancy workers are involved in daily solid waste management, part-time DBCs are appointed by the civic body to carry out anti-dengue operations.

These workers are tasked with visiting individual households to identify and eliminate breeding grounds of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector of dengue fever. They also educate residents and ensure that rainwater does not collect in old tyres, broken items, or unused containers. If necessary, they are required to apply repellents in and around homes. Each DBC is expected to visit 50 households a day, six days a week, working four hours a day.

The civic body had appointed 436 part-time workers whose term ended on May 31, 2025. However, with the onset of the rainy season and the continued need for mosquito control, their services have been extended for June and July, or until further notice. These workers are outsourced through an agency and are paid ₹360 per day. Additionally, the civic body pays 13% towards Employee Provident Fund (EPF), 3.25% towards Employee State Insurance (ESI), and 18% as service tax.

A senior Corporation official told The Hindu their services might be extended further depending on the requirements, as the monsoon was expected to continue in the State for the next five months.

Source: The Hindu