The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “Abolish manual scavenging”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Abolish manual scavenging”

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Untouchability Eradication Front president Moosa having a word with A. Soundararajan, general secretary, CITU, at the seminar in Chennai on Sunday. K.R. Ganesan (left), general secretary, and P. Sampath, organiser, UEF, are in the picture.

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Rural Development Local Bodies Workers Federation and the Untouchability Eradication Front (UEF) on Sunday urged the State government to put an end to manual scavenging.

In his special address at the State Conference that was attended by workers, CITU state general secretary A. Soundararajan said the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) would seek the support of other communities for the support of Arundathiar community’s cause in eradicating the practice.

He also said that CPI(M) supported one per cent reservation for Arundathiar community.

CITU state secretary T.A. Latha demanded the State government to recognise the Scavengers’ Workers Welfare Board by providing more powers to it and give preference to scavengers in distribution of free lands.

UEF general secretary K.R. Ganesan said that if the State government failed to take steps to suspend manual scavenging, they would launch a state-wide stir.

UEF State president Moosa said that it was a summit with a difference, as they were not seeking a hike in salary or bonus payment.

“We are just asking the State Government to fulfil the basic demands of scavengers.”

At the meeting, the speakers demanded housing facilities for scavengers, to halt privatisation of cleaning works, provide education facilities to children of scavengers, mechanisation of underground drainage system and confirmation of services of temporary workers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu