Udupi: After 42 years, the State government has regularized the services of Akku and Leela, who worked in Housekeeping Department at the Government Women Teachers’ Training Institute of Udupi. From past 7 years they have been working without salary.

Initially they worked for a salary of Rs. 15. They were terminated from their jobs in 1998, when they approached the Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF)  of Udupi  to help them get their job regularised. They continued to work without pay till 2011.

Ravindranath Shanbhag, President of HRPF, told media that Akku and Leela have finally enjoyed success. The Supreme Court has directed the State government to issue an order to give all the pending salary, pension, PF and other services to the both.

They have received the initial payment of Rs 2.11 lakh in December 2013, and Rs. 3.68 lakh in January 2014  by the state government.

The HRPF tried hard on their behalf of the ladies for their rights. The organization also filed a case on the government with  regard to contempt of court in June 2012.

On July 4, the Supreme Court issued a final warning giving a week to the government to comply with its order. Accordingly, an order was issued to pay their dues. The Supreme Court has disposed of the contempt petition consequent to the government’s action.

Shanbhag added that “Without interest, the dues for each one of them account to more than Rs. 10 lakh. We want the government to pay with interest” Dr Shanbhag said.

Akku expressing her views said that she is very happy that she got her rightful money after so many years. She further said that with the money she will be able to get her daughters married.

 All their legal battle at the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal, the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court were fought by the HRPF. “But it is all due to Dr Shanbhag’s efforts, I did not spend a single paisa for all these legal battles,” she said.
 
Future Steps

The Human Rights Protection Foundation will monitor the implementation of the Government order till the last rupee is paid.  It has decided to help the Government employees in similar cases. 

Already the Foundation has received 78 such cases from all over Karnataka. Padma (65) from Government Training School of Balmatta, Mangalore and Elizabeth (68) who has been working in Fisheries High School, Malpe, having served for 42 and 45 years respectively have already approached the Education Department to apply the same principle in their cases.