Akku and Leela clean 21 toilets in an institute three times a day, but without pay
Earning a salary of Rs. 15 a month for their work as sweepers for over four decades, Akku and Leela have never had it easy. But one thing they are never short on is self-respect.
The two women, cleaned toilets at the Government Women Teachers’ Training Institute, Udupi for a monthly salary of Rs. 15 from 1971 to 2001. They still clean the 21 toilets in the institute three times a day, but without pay as they had approached the court seeking justice regarding their salary.
Following publication of their story in The Hindu, several readers from across the globe have come forward to help them financially. But these women insist that they do not want charity. “All that we want is what is due to us. What our hard work all through the past 42 years deserves,” Ms. Akku told The Hindu.
Ms. Akku was employed as a sweeper at the institute in 1971 after her mother died. Ms. Leela, too, joined as a sweeper the same year in her grandmother’s place.
Both their appointments were approved by the Deputy Director of Public Instruction of Dakshina Kannada district in 1972 and their basic salary was fixed at Rs. 15 a month. “We were promised that our services would be regularised and salaries increased as per the government rules [the Minimum Wages Act]. But the same salary continued for years. And that was also stopped after we approached the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) for justice in 2001. From then till now we have been working with the hope of getting the benefits that are due to us from the government,” Ms. Akku said.
Udupi-based Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF) president Ravindranath Shanbhag, who has been fighting for their cause, said although the Supreme Court, the Karnataka High Court and the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) ruled in favour of the two women and directed the government to regularise their services, the order is yet to be implemented. “It is unfortunate that the government spent lakhs of rupees on fighting the cases against the hapless women rather than pay what is due to them,” he said. Mr. Shanbhag said the women had high self esteem and had refused help in the past too.
“When some teachers from the institute gave them some money a few years ago, they refused to accept it until they were allowed to return the favour by cleaning the toilets in the homes of the teachers. While supporting their battle, HRPF has seen to it that their self-respect is not hurt,” he said.
Pointing out that both Ms. Akku and Ms. Leela have been fighting for justice since four decades, Mr. Shanbhag said: “The HRPF joined their fight only in 1998. When their Rs. 15 salary was stopped and services terminated in 2001, we offered them financial and legal support. They flatly refused the financial support but accepted the legal assistance with a condition that they would return the money spent by the Foundation once they get justice from the courts. We agreed, respecting their spirit and self-respect.”
Reacting to the issue, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri said he had directed his officials to submit a report on the case within two weeks. “It is an old case. I will study the report and will ensure that the women get justice,” he said.
Keywords: Akku and Leela, sanitary workers, Karnataka sanitary workers story, Government Women Teachers’ Training Institute
I admire the self-respect and dignified stance of these ladies. If 10% of our politicians had such self-respect and dignity, the country would have not gone to the dogs.
I would like to help HRPF to expand their good work. Kindly post their contact details. Thank you.
The fitting punishment for those rascals in the government who have denied these hapless women their due, should be made to clean those toilets at least for a week.
Well said, Akku & Leela. A slap in the face not just to the relevant
Government Authorities for having this unresolved but also to the
dime-a-dozen "sympathizers" and "charity-givers". The message here is
to change the system to help, not just them - but many like them,
whose voices are yet to be heard. A clear demand for a show of
respect and dignity for the job they jolly well do - as a starter. I
will call that true empowerment! Bravo.
These two women are a role model for people who live in today's world.
In spite of their present financial condition, they still live with
self respect & dignity. They earn their money in just & fair manner,
though the amount is so meager, they haven't lost their self respect.
This is in contrast to the common people today, who are willing to
lose every thing ( moral values , principles.......... ) just to
remain ahead in the competitive world in terms of money, power or
position.
Tears swell in my eyes and run down my cheeks even as I write this. It
is shocking to know that the heartless people haven't done anything in
so many years. What these women ( godly people to me ) asked for is
only their right which they deserve fully. Is humanity left in the
person responsible? It is hoped justice prevails & needful is done.
I salute to these two women, Ms. Leela and Ms. Akku, for their exemplary display of character by adhering to their self-respect even in such dire circumstances. I wish they get their dues, which are long overdue, sooner than later, now.
Where are the so called women welfare organisations?.What welfare they are suppose to take care?. Its a shame that they have been left to fend themselves all these years with no tangible help in sight. These are the unsung heroes we should worship and do everything to make them comfortable and respected.
Salute those 2 hapless ladies. They have to be worshipped.All those involved in this issue (Ministry, Education dept and management) do not have any self respect and self esteem. Only such people can treat 2 ladies like this only because they belong to dalit community. The Karnataka govt also equally responsible. They do not even have heart. These people talk so much but actually worse than beggers. Because they got everything done at free of cost and enjoyed for more than 4 decades. Such acts and the persons involved in it should be condemned by strongest words.
Why does the Minister Kageri need his officers two weeks time to prepare the report? This should be done in two days max. I imagine he may need further time to think over it. And then the Report will be sent with his comments to a Steering committee, and next to an Experts Committee and so on ... Time passes on; new elections will be fought; government will change; the Minister will leave.. the same story continues. Is this fair or just! What a joke!!
Disturbing and inspirational at the same time. Disturbing , of course, applies to the sham that is the Indian welfare state and inspirational is the courage of these women who have braved this injustice for four decades.
Kudos to 'The Hindu' for taking up the cause of these women. Really hope that sooner than later I shall be informed, by means of this paper, of the compensation that was paid to these women at long last.
Great shame for the people and the government made by people.
We always welcome to foreigner only just for showoff "atithi devo bhawa",respect woman saying they are like goddess but only for showing we are above all but in reality we aren't even at the ground level of humanity.
Even though we proclaim ourselves to be a democracy but its time we face the fact
that indian democracy is mirage, an illusion. Our founding fathers bulit the nation on
the ideals of "Ram Rajya" taking inspiration from Hindu Vedas, Manu's writings and
so on and so forth. It seems to me now that we really are a "Welfare state"?
(theoretically) heaping injustice to people from the lower quarters all the time since
our foundation itself relies on the things mentioned above.
"The government spent lakhs of rupees on fighting the cases against the hapless women rather than pay what is due to them."
Who are these rascals in the Govt who did this?
Classic example for how the depraved can exploit the naive. I applaud their demand of justice and hope it be done
We are used to the TV channels highlighting the cases of eye catching ladies from upper
class circles. It is refreshing to have The Hindu giving such prominence to the plight of these
two elderly sanitary workers. Most of us in the middle class owe our relatively comfortable life
styles to services of underpaid domestic help. It is good to have The Hindu hold the mirror to
this social reality.
My respect for these Women has multiplied ten folds...
As this is a case of 47 years and they are serving without any hesitaion, their service should be regular and they should get all the dues cleared as per the 6th pay commision.
Can not the learned Governor of the State anxiously running after BJP Government on corruption do justice to these two poor ladies with self-respect? Even what our speaker, UPA chair person and more importantly opposition leader in the Parliament who themselves are ladies are doing? I feel Justice Santosh Hegde may consider to help them before international dailies and monthlies like New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time and Economist cover this story. Last but not the least Jairam Ramesh too has a moral responsibity.
I cried after reading their story. What is wrong withe people of India.
Why have they become inhuman? These women should get what they deserve
plus a hefty compensation for the torture. What the government has done
by violating their right by exploiting them. Criminal cases should
registered against these "officials." Let try to help these women by
voicing their cause. I am loosing all faith in India
Hats off to Leela and Akku. The job ther are doing could be menial but their self-respect in refusing charity makes them taller than most of us.
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