Officials told to provide facilities to civic workers

Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman M R Venkatesh and member Gokula Narayanaswamy visited the houses at safai Workers’ Colony in Ranipet on Friday.

Venkatesh took the officials to task for not providing funds for the repair of the Safai Karmacharis’ houses. Most of the houses need repair as the roofs have worn out, he said.

He said the children of civic workers, too, should have education in private educational institutions and directed the Social Welfare officer to provide a list of the needy.

He also told the urban development planning director on the spot to provide drinking water, toilet and LPG facilities to all households in the colony. The civic workers should be given gloves and gum boots. Monthly health check-ups should be conducted for the workers, he said.

He later inspected the condition of the toilets at KSRTC bus stand and expressed his dissatisfaction over the unhygienic condition. Though the cleaning work has been outsourced and Rs 5 is collected from users, cleanliness is not maintained. Everyday, Rs 2,300 is paid to the outsourcing agency, he said and added that he will write to the KSRTC director and also lodge a case against its managing director.

He also heard the grievances of Safai Karmacharis at the district hospital. Taking part in an interaction programme with Safai Karmacharis at Kaveri Kalakshetra, he said the civic workers should utilise the government schemes meant for them. They should take good care of their health, he advised.
City Municipal Council president Kaveramma Somanna was present at the programme.

Chairing a meeting at the DC’s office, he said several complaints have been received over non-payment of salary to the civic workers under contract basis and he sought a report on the facilities provided to civic workers from the officials.

Deputy commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza, SP P Rajendra Prasad and Zilla Panchayat CEO Charulata Somal were present.

Foreign tour Bhagya

Venkatesh said 1,000 civic workers will be taken on a foreign tour. At a press conference, he said six members each from city corporation, four members from CMCs and three members each from TMCs and Town Panchayats will go on a Singapore tour. Their passports are getting ready, he added.