Date:23/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/23/stories/2008082360661000.htm

Tamil Nadu

“Tamil Nadu employing huge number of scavengers”

Special Correspondent

States are not utilising funds for their rehabilitation, says Santosh Chowdhary

Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

Santosh Chowdhary —

CHENNAI: National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Chairperson Santosh Chowdhary on Friday said she would recommend to the Prime Minister to stop releasing funds to State governments that had not utilised the amount allotted to them for rehabilitation of scavengers. Ms. Chowdhary, who was here to discuss the efforts taken by Indian Overseas Bank, Indian Bank and THADCO to rehabilitate scavengers, told reporters that the deadline given by the UPA government to eradicate manual scavenging by December 31, 2007, had to be extended to March 31, 2009 because of the State governments.

“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is personally monitoring the scheme. I will write to him to stop the funds,” she said.

Ms. Chowdhary regretted that Tamil Nadu, one of the largest States in the country, was employing a huge number of scavengers instead of proving to be a role model employer that could be replicated by other States.

She said though Rs. 57.80 crore was allotted to the State under the National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation, only Rs. 24.52 crore was utilised. Once again Rs. 21 crore had been allotted under the new Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers, she said.

Stressing the need for a survey on manual scavenging that was continuing in many Stated, Ms. Chowdhary said only survey could make the State governments realise the magnitude of the problem.

She also urged the States to implement the minimum wages for the Safai Karamcharis fixed by the Centre. In ‘A’ class cities, the amount is Rs. 180 a day.

In ‘B’ class cities, it should be Rs. 150 and in ‘C’ class cities Rs. 120.

The commission also made a slew of recommendations for the welfare of Safai Karamcharis including Rs. 5 lakh compensation for those who died while doing their work, especially clearing sewages in public and private households.

She said officials from Indian Bank and Indian Overseas Bank had promised to implement all the recommendations of the commission in their organisations. IOB chairman S.A. Bhatt, Indian Bank chairman M.S. Sundararajan were among those who participated in the deliberations.