New bank accounts have been opened for safai karmacharis, who have also got Rs. 40,000 as financial assistance.
Chairperson of the National Safai Karmacharis’ Commission Shivanna gave away bank passbooks to 22 safai karmacharis recently.
According to a survey of manual scavengers and unsanitary latrines conducted in 194 urban local bodies in the State between May and August 2013, 302 safai karmacharis and their dependents were identified. Of those, 202 were in Bangalore Urban, 87 in Kolar Gold Fields, seven in Doddaballapura, four in Srinivasapura and two in Gangavathi.
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A release said 87 persons out of the 202 in Bangalore Urban were identified as manual scavengers during re-verification, though they are at present involved in other occupations. According to officials, persons identified as manual scavengers were cleaning septic tanks besides being engaged in other work.
The survey report would be submitted to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, the release added.
Mr. Shivanna said at the meeting that manual scavengers would be given financial assistance of Rs. 40,000 each to take up other vocations as a part of the rehabilitation package.
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Their children will be given skill-oriented training, financial assistance and permanent jobs. For children pursuing education, a one-time scholarship of Rs. 3,000 would be given. For those pursing higher education, scholarship of Rs. 5 lakh, and for those studying abroad, a scholarship of Rs. 25 lakh would be given, according to the release.
Mr. Shivanna added that many safai karmacharis have not registered with the commission. A survey would be conducted soon to ensure that all of them do so.