MCC to provide funds for building toilets

Rs 1.12 cr set aside for 1,125 families

Mysore City Corporation (MCC) has given its approval for providing financial assistance to 1,125 Scheduled Caste families for construction of toilets in all nine zones of the city.

At a council meeting chaired by mayor Pushpalatha Chikkana, MCC commissioner K S Raykar announced that Rs 1.12 crore had been set aside for construction of toilets. Each family would be given Rs 10,000 as assistance.

Based on the orders issued by the government, each family of SC/ST would be given financial assistance under a scheme, which sets aside 22.75 per cent of funds. The funds would be released in three installments to the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries can provide voters ID card, residential certificate or Aadhar card as proof to benefit from the scheme. A few corporators demanded that assistance should be provided to all SC/ST families.

Corporator Sunanda Palanetra raised the issue of increasing stray dogs in the city. She sought to know the action taken by the health, education and social justice standing committee in controlling the menace. Supporting the corporator, leader of opposition Vidya Urs said stray dogs had been causing problems to residents.

For physically-challenged

The government has ordered that 3 per cent of grants should be set aside for the welfare of physically-challenged. For the year 2011-12, Rs 1722.94 lakh had been set aside from the corporation. Mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna said that a draft plan had been prepared for using the funds for the welfare of the physically-challenged based on the report by chief accounts officer.

Corporator R Lingappa said the funds should be distributed equally among all the 65 wards.

Corporator T Devaraj said the funds should be issued to those, who are recommended by the councillors. Deputy mayor M J Ravikumar was present.

Objection for septic tanks

Former mayor Sandesh Swamy objected to the construction of septic tanks along with the toilets, as this would keep the practise of carrying night soil alive. He said that media reports published one-and-half-years back had shown that carrying night soil was prevalent. He said that construction of septic tanks shouldn’t be allowed at any cost. Instead, UGD connection should be provided, he added.