Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Dec 5: The chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis M Shivanna, quit the meeting hall criticising the district administration, deputy commissioner, superintendent of police of Dakshina Kannada district, commissioner of police and zilla panchayat members for not attending the meeting held at Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) on Thursday, December 4.

Expressing the sadness over the district administration officers, he said that according to the protocol when the minister arrives, they should be with them. But conducting the meeting without them was baseless.

“90% of the members are here from corporation. But the main officers are missing who had to answer me, I wanted to ask the atrocities of the Mangaluru people", he added.

Prior to this incident, a meeting was held in the presence of chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis M Shivanna, Mayor Mahabala Marla, deputy mayor Kavitha, Gokul Das Nayak, Dakshina Kannada district 'Pourakarmikas' and the Class IV employees union president Anil Kumar Kankanady, environment engineer Madhu, Shashidhar Hegde.

Addressing the gathering M Shivanna said that he had come to Mangaluru to study the health condition of the manual scavengers and then submit the report to the Central Government.

"Removal of human waste/excreta (night soil) from unsanitary, toilets without the modern flush system is still alive in India. In Karnataka 540 people and in Bangalore 300 people are into this job. This should be stopped completely and these workers should get a house, a good job, loan facility to start their own business", he informed.

Speaking about the manual scavengers, he questioned what would happen if they go on a strike for one week. "To clean the manholes, they first consume alcohol so that they could stand the work. Not only cleaning the manholes, but the drainage cleaners also go through similar trauma".

"An act has come out in the last year's parliament meeting saying that those who are involved in manual scavenging should get free health check up for every six months, all the basic facilities which the government workers are getting. They should be also paid justly", he said speaking on behalf of the workers.

Shivanna also said that the society has become blind that the worker in a hostel gets Rs 600 per day and a government worker only Rs 300.

He announced that the person who dies while working in manholes, drainages and in collecting the human waste should get Rs 10 lacs as compensation. "One Jetting machine and a Sucking machine should be provided for every 10,000 population area. The person in-charge or looking after the manual scavengers should provide the basic requirements for the work. Concerned officer should provide a kit. This kit should include Gum Boots, hand gloves, Knee Caps, soap and towels. In every two months, kit has to be changed. In the case of the officer failing to provide this kit, he will be then jailed with no bail".

Dakshina Kannada district 'Pourakarmikas' and the Class IV employees union president Anil Kumar Kankanady placing his plea in front of the chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis said that the kit has not yet reached to them till now. "The workers are facing lot of health related issues. We need a separate account for our kids so that we can send them to higher studies", he said.

Responding to the plea, M Shivanna said that the supervisor should take all the responsibility when anything happens to the workers. "ESI and PF facility should be started quickly. These workers do not have a proper place for them to clean themselves after the work. Awareness programmes should be held to stop manual scavenging. City Corporation should bring in Jetting and Sucking machines”.

Meeting with District Administration:

Minister M Shivanna called for the meeting with the district administration officers, deputy commissioner, superintendent of police of Dakshina Kannada district, commissioner of police and zilla panchayat members. But they all failed to attend the meeting. Shivanna blamed that the district administration has not taken this meeting seriously and left the meeting hall.

Additional deputy commissioner Sadashiva Prabhu tried to convince the minister but failed.

ACP Thilak Raj Nayak, corporator and others were also present on the occasion.