Chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Safai Karamcharis Narayan has said that Rs. 280 crore released during 2013-14 by the National Safai Karamcharis Commission, for initiating welfare measures for safai karamcharis and pourakarmikas in the urban areas of the State, has lapsed.
Speaking to presspersons in Kalaburagi on Thursday after conducting a review meeting with the officials of urban local bodies (ULB) and city corporations, Mr. Narayan said that the national commission had released Rs. 300 for the welfare of the pourakarmikas and safai karamcharis, but the ULBs and corporations had spent only Rs. 20 crore. The remaining had lapsed, he said.
Mr. Narayan said that the a proposal has now been placed before the National Safari Karamcharis Commission to release the funds to the State Commission for Safai Karamcharis, so that it can be fully utilised. He said that the State commission had also submitted a proposal for reserving 5 per cent of the Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) in the State for taking up the welfare measures for pourakarmikas and safai karamcharis in the State.
During 2014-15, Rs. 16,000 crore has been earmarked under the SCP and TSP in the State.
Mr. Narayan said that ULBs were also returning the funds released for the rehabilitation of the manual scavengers stating that there were no manual scavengers in their cities and towns.
The amount released for the rehabilitation should be used for the welfare of family members of manual scavengers and the pourakarmikas.
To a question, Mr. Narayan said that the commission would recommend to the State government to discontinue the practice of outsourcing the work of pourakarmikas and availing the services of the pourakarmikas on contract basis.
ULBs spent only
Rs. 20 cr. of the
Rs. 300 cr. released by the national panel: chairman
