Safai Karmacharis will get a better deal, says Kharge

Speaking at a function where 12 millionth smart card under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was handed over, he rued the plight of Safai Karmacharis saying they were getting a raw deal.

"Safai Karmcharis are made permanent only selectively while 75 per cent of them continue to be on daily wages deprived of benefits", Kharge said, adding, corporations and municipalities treat them "shabbily" without providing the essentials such as gloves, clothing and other safety gadgets.

He said his Ministry had already held discussions with Social Welfare Department and officials of the Finance Ministry to come out with "special wages" for Safai Karmcharis and improve their lot.

RSBY, a health insurance scheme for workers (the BPL-below poverty line families) of the unorganised sector, is being implemented in five districts of Bangalore Rural, Mysore, Dakshina Kannada, Belgaum and Shimoga.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and the state Labour Minister B N Bache Gowda said the scheme would be extended to all the districts of Karnataka.

Kharge said a regional provident fund office would be opened in north Karnataka, while there were also proposals to start sub-regional ESI hospitals in the country.