Extend timely financial aid to wards of civic workers, officials told

National Safai Karmachari Commission member Jagadish Hiremani has directed officials concerned to pay the school and college fees of children of civic workers at the time of admission itself so as to ensure that they complete their education without any hindrance.

Chairing a district-level progress review meeting on the welfare measures taken for civic workers, he said that the condition of civic workers is pathetic and most children drop out of schools and colleges due to financial problems. “Children of civic workers should get priority in residential schools. The Centre aims to provide houses to all civic workers by 2020. So, the Centre is ready to grant sufficient funds.

The local bodies should identify suitable sites and construct houses for civic workers on a warfooting. The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) can give up to Rs 3.5 lakh subsidy to civic workers for construction of houses,” he said.

“As both the state and Union governments provide hundreds of crores as funds to the Dr B R Ambedkar Development Corporation, civic workers can be advanced loans to take up self-employment. The MCC can encourage them to buy machinery and equipment that can be used for its works. Both the MCC and the self-employed civic worker will benefit by this arrangement,” he said.

Appreciating the health benefits extended to civic workers by the MCC, he asked officials concerned to continue the good work. He suggested extension of benefits to the family members of the civic workers. He asked them to ensure 100% payment of salaries that they are entitled to and 100% provision of equipment and security gear to civic workers.

“In Karnataka there are 35,000 civic workers on contract. The services of 11,000 of them have been regularised. The services of the rest will be regularised in phases,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner D Randeep, Joint Director for Social Welfare Prabha and president of Pourakarmikara Sangha Mara were present.