ZP claim on manual scavenging questioned

ZP claim on manual scavenging questioned

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 6,2016: Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman C Narayana was sceptical on the claim made by the Zilla Panchayat on the practice of manual scavenging in the district.

When Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat CEO, Chief Executive Officer P I Sreevidya explained that none of the total 634 Safai Karmacharis identified in the district are practising manual scavenging, Narayana questioned it.

He instead blamed the Gram Panchayats for keeping the higher-ups in dark to prevent inconvenience.  The district has a total of 230 Gram Panchayats spread over five taluks.

Chairman Narayana recalled his visit to a village near Hubballi-Dharwad where the authorities concerned too had painted a similar picture.

It was only after sometime, it emerged that four persons in the village were still practising it, who were regularly deployed for cleaning pits. Two among them died on the job, Narayana added.

Narayana insisted on master health check-up of the pourakarmikas, besides housing facilities (for permanent pourakarmikas) as the government has set aside Rs 75 crore for the purpose.

He also took note of the complaint that only 32 pourakarmikas are considered for housing facilities in the city corporation limits, while seven others who retired are still deprived of the facility.