MANGALURU: As part of its efforts to rid Karnataka of the shameful practice of manual scavenging, a survey will be undertaken by the National Law University, said chairman of Safai Karmachari Commission M Shivanna in Mangaluru on Friday.
Shivanna, who participated in meeting convened to review the implementation of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act, 2013 at the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, said, "While the government has the required data on pourakarmikas employed in both urban local bodies and the panchayats, there is no information about those working at hospitals, malls and other private establishments. This is what prompted the commission to decide on a survey to ascertain the exact number of people employed in the capacity of pourakarmikas. The project will be taken up first in Mysuru, Bagalkot and Ballari districts."
Lamenting the condition of pourakarmikas working for outsourced contractors, who were not providing them with the necessary safety equipment, Shivanna said, "There are many pourakarmikas who work without donning safety gear here in Mangaluru. I have directed the officials to distribute safety equipment kits to all pourakarmikas. I have also sought a report about pourakarmikas working without safety gear from the authorities concerned."
He said that the commission had received complaints from pourakarmikas working for the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) about not being paid provident funds (PF), and payment to the Employees' State Insurance fund not being made. "In the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), we unearthed a scam involving a sum of Rs 540 crore. I have directed officials of the MCC to ensure that this does not happen here. I have also directed the Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner to get rid of the contract system, and bring all pourakarmikas under the direct authority of the MCC. They must all be handed a payslip," Shivanna added.
He questioned the MCC's failure to provide rooms to pourkarmikas, and pointed to the failure on the part of the officials in the rural areas to ensure payment of minimum wages and ensuring ESI and PF benefits to civic workers in the villages. "Officials have been directed to address these problems, and submit a report to the commission. District-level workshops will be organised to make pourakarmikas aware about what they are rightfully entitled to. A sum of Rs 1 lakh will be allocated to each district to organise these workshops," said Shivanna, adding that the state government had approved the commission's recommendation to distribute milk and eggs to civic workers.
