Grievance redress meeting: KSHRC chief S.R. Nayak receives petitions in Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, November 20: Chairman of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission S.R. Nayak on Friday said that government officials should be more responsive to the needs of the people. He was receiving petitions from the public at a meeting here.

Akku Sherigar, who worked as sweeper at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), said she had been working in the institute for 39 years on temporary basis. And although she was paid only Rs. 80 a month, she had been denied her wages for six years.

The case of her colleague Leela Challa, who used lift night soil in the same institute for the last 39 years, was no different, she said.

Mr. Nayak directed the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) B.V. Mahidas to take action in the matter.

The Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT), the High Court and the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of Ms. Sherigar and Ms. Challa. “Why have you kept quiet even after the Supreme Court has ruled in their favour? Why have their services not been regularised? Take quick action”, he said. Dalit Sangharsha Samiti convener Ramesh Kotian said the district administration was not providing proper facilities to people in naxalite-affected areas in Kundapur taluk.

Mr. Nayak said it was essential to ensure social justice in such areas, as people here appeared to have lost faith in government officers. This situation should be reversed by being responsive to people’s needs, he said. Mr. Kotian said although the fee stipulated for students in Government Pre-University College in Udupi was Rs. 141 a year, Rs. 1,400 was being collected.

Deputy Director of Pre-University Education S.S. Shindha said the decision had been taken by the College Betterment Committee. Mr. Nayak said he would issue a notice to Mr. Shindha seeking his explanation. Albert said that there was a chicken shop on one side of his house in Malpe. Although he had got a court order in his favour, the CMC had changed the door number of the shop. A notice would be issued to CMC for tampering with records. thehindu