Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Oct 12: After the review meeting with concerned officials, S Mareppa, chairman of Karnataka State Safai Karamchari Commission on Thursday October 12 held a press meet at Deputy Commissioner office, Rajathadri Manipal here.

Addressing media persons here he said, "On our analysis of Udupi we have found that though the district is advanced in education and development, it lags behind in health issues. The civic workers of the city are not bothered about their health. There are loopholes in providing Provident Fund to civic workers who are permanent. They have become victims of privatization and commercialization. There is need for awareness to be created among them about the available schemes and programmes available through education. There is need to change their mind set and to keep them engaged enough to be self employed.

"The commission was established in 2015 with the intention of extending financial assistance and welfare measures to the families of the Safai Karamcharis and civic workers in the state, but it was implemented successfully in 2017-18.

"Bengaluru Municipality Council has a huge mafia at work. It was reported that nearly 20,000 civic workers are working but records show that working scavengers are 12,000. 8,000 employees names are bogus and ironically the government is issuing salary to them.

The Karmachari department works through Ambedkar Development Corporation. A commission was proposed for Rs 84 crore to provide financial assistance to their children’s education.

Mareppa said, "A true Arogyadatha is a civic worker. The government provides Rs 6 lac for purchase of housing sites to local and municipality workers (additional Rs 1.8 lac for municpality sites), Rs 5 lac for vehicle loans. The Safai Karmikas department promotes civic workers for substitute job opportunities.

"The states government has reserved Rs 100 crore toward the betterment of SC/ST and Safai community. They are the most underprivileged community in society. A proposal has been sent to the government from the labour department on September 7 to cancel the contract based appointment system. Once the government approves the proposal for exemption of contract workers, they will become permanent government workers and enjoy government benefits. Harassment will be eliminated.

"The Udupi Municipality Council has no accurate record of the count of Safai workers. Town Municipality workers colony namely Manjushri Nagar, Indiranagar of Udupi are in better condition. If time permits then they will definitely visit few more under privileged civic worker colonies. They are afraid to express their problems in front of the department concerned.

"There are approximately 56,000 civic workers in the state, but according to the documents only 35,000 are present. The commission has come to learn that there are 40,000 workers in Karnataka. Of the nearly 2.5 lac safai workers in India, 1.45 lac have been identified. The people who are employed in the private sector have no job security. The civic workers are categorized into three categories namely permanent, contract and private workers.

"The commission has reserved Rs 50 lac for organizing awareness programmes among them to educate them," he said.

Bhanu Prakash, member, Karnataka State Safai Karamchari Commission and Keshav Murthy were present.