Mangaluru: M. Shivanna, chairman of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, here on Thursday said “the non-identification of scavengers across the State has led to the waste of crores of rupees of funds”.
Reviewing the status of civic workers and implementation of the Prohibition of Employment and Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 by the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), Shivanna said that the government agencies have misinterpreted the manual scavenging act, leading to hasty declarations.
The MCC drew flak for having only four jetting and sucking machines to clear drainages when it was recommended to have at least one machine per 10, 000 population.
Shivanna said that the present condition of safai karamcharis in all states of the country will be reviewed by him and a report will be submitted to the central government. In Karnataka, he is visiting all districts.
Dalit leader S P Anand alleged that there is no under-ground drainage connection in Bunder area and the waste is left to open drains. The fate of safai karamcharis in the area is pathetic. If the safai karamcharis deny to scavenge in the open drains, their payment is cut, he said.
Shivanna directed MCC Bunder ward Health Inspector Nirmala to take immediate action towards laying underground drainage connection in the area.
He directed the Mayor to identify land for building quarters for safai karamcharis in MCC limits. Mayor replied that a plot of land has already been identified near Surathkal for the same.
The National Commission Chairperson further said that the safai karamcharis should be compulsorily provided with a safety kit containing uniform, gum boots, mask, hand gloves, cap, apron etc and it should be seen to that the workers use it compulsorily.
The materials should be sterilised before use. He added that three officers have been suspended in Coimbatore railway station for not providing safety kit.
Shivanna asserted, “The contractors who are employing safai karamcharis on temporary basis, should provide them PF and ESI benefits. Those who don’t provide, blacklist such contractors”. Shivanna also issued directions to conduct health check-up of the family members of safai karamcharis once in six months.
Chairman walks out of meeting
Irked by the absence of top officials, Shivanna walked out of the district-level review meeting of civic workers and implementation of the manual scavenging act. “I have visited almost all districts in the state and never have I been so insulted. I have come all the way from New Delhi and the officials here do not even have the courtesy to follow the protocol”, he said before walking out.
