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Case Report (2023/12/23): Death of Two Maintenance Workers in the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd.

Report-on-Death-of-2-MS-in-Shahi-Exports

The manufacturing unit (Unit 23) of Shahi Exports Private Limited (one of the largest garments’ exporter in India) located in Beretana Agrahara on Hosur Main Road has over 2,300 workers working over three shifts a day. Several toilets have been constructed for these workers and the sewage from these toilets flows into a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a treatment capacity of 150 kLD. The inflowing sewage is collected in a 1000kL collection tank from which it enters the Aeration Tank (15 kL capacity) where primary treatment occurs. This partially treated sewage from the aeration tank is then sent to a Clarifier Tank where the separation of the solids from the liquid content of the sewage takes place, and the liquid part flows to the Filter Feed Tank as shown in the schematic below. 

Schematic of the Sewage Treatment Plant at Shahi Exports Manufacturing Units

The Filter Feed Tank has a submersible pump through which liquid is pumped to the next unit in the treatment process. The depth of the Filter Feed tank is about 10 feet and the breadth is about 15-18 feet. This Filter Feed Tank is not designed for human entry. It has a very small entry, and no in-built ladder arrangement for climbing down. 

The entry point for climbing inside the filter feed tank of the STP

The access to the entry point of the Filter fFeed Tank is also extremely cramped and congested. Ordinarily, the Filter Feed Tank should contain only liquid content and no solid content should enter the tank, but either because of bad design or improper functioning of the Sewage Treatment Plant, a lot of sludge had accumulated inside the Filter Feed Tank. According to an employee of Shahi Exports, the solidified sewage was 1 feet deep, and thus the tanks required to be cleaned. 

On 23rd December 2023, two maintenance workers – Mr. K. Anand (44 years), a native of Andhra Pradesh belonging to Kamsala caste and Mr. T R Shashikumar (51 years), a native of Tamil Nadu. belonging to Naidu caste – were asked to enter inside the Filter Feed Tank and clean it with their bare hands. A utility ladder (see the image below) was given to them for climbing down the 10-ft deep tank. Clearly, they had no prior knowledge or training on the precautions to be undertaken while entering a confined space which had accumulated sludge in it. According to the General Manager of the factory, Mr. Suresh, the tank hadn’t been cleaned for 3 years. Because of the presence of untreated sludge for such a long period, that too in an almost completely closed tank with only a small opening, the tank is likely to have contained a high concentration of gases.

The narrow access to the tank and the ladder used to go inside the 10-ft Tank

Mr. Anand was the first one to enter the tank at about 2:45 pm and when he stopped responding, Mr. Shashikumar also went inside. It is not clear if they were being supervised by anyone while they entered the tank. The General Manager of the factory feigned ignorance about whether any other staff of the factory was present at the spot or not or whether the work was being supervised by any staff of the factory.  Before the unconscious workers were pulled out, they were inside the tank for about 30 minutes. They were rushed to Kaveri Hospital where they were declared dead. Both the workers had been working at the factory for a period of 2-3 years. The Sewage Treatment Plant had received Consent for Operation (CFO) in 2010 which was renewed in 2022 for a period of 10 years. 

Mr. Sridhar (29 years), son of Mr. Shashikumar and Mr. Brahmayya (29 years) son of Mr. Anand were informed about the incident at around 3:30 PM and when they reached the hospital, they were informed about the deaths of their respective fathers. Based on a complaint by Mr. Sridhar, an FIR (CR No. 729/2023) was registered at the Parappana Agrahara Police Station u/s 7 and 9 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and 34, 304 Part A of the Indian Penal Code against five persons: Nandish Gowda (Production General Manager), Rajesh Marar (Maintenance Deputy General Manager), Sreenivas (STP/ETP Incharge) and James Raju and Chandra Mohan (both HR). 

While the registration of the FIR by the police under the PEMSR Act, 2013 is laudable, the invoking of the IPC Section 304 Part B (culpable homicide) instead of the much weaker IPC section 304 Part A (negligence) is warranted. The knowledge of the hazardous nature of the work that the two workers were made to carry out has to be assumed in light of the fact that the tank was not designed to be cleaned manually and such manual cleaning is banned under the law. Another serious lapse on the part of the investigating team was their failure to collect samples of the sludge present inside the tank. The FSL forensic team is reported to have collected only a sample of the gases present in the tank, which might help ascertain the cause of death but not the source of the gases which is important for the crime to be linked with the practice of manual scavenging.

When a team of officials, lawyers and activists visited the factory on 26th December 2023, i.e. three days after the incident, the company had not even started the process of disbursing compensation of Rs 30 lakhs to the family of each of the deceased worker, in accordance with the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India [Writ Petition 324 of 2020].

Unending Series of Deaths in STPs and Regulatory Vacuum

This fatal incident is the latest in an unending series of deaths in Sewage Treatment Plants in Bengaluru. Since 2016, seven such incidents have been documented (see Table 1) which have claimed 13 lives so far. After the 2016 notification issued by the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department in Karnataka, it has become mandatory for residential apartments meeting the specified threshold (in terms of area or number of housing units) to build and operate sewage treatment plants. Since these regulations were issued, the number of STPs have proliferated in Bangalore. While Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) mandates construction of STPs as a precondition for providing water connection, it doesn’t regulate the design, construction and maintenance of these STPs. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) also doesn’t  regulate the design and operation of residential STPs beyond issuing Consent for Establishment (CFE) and Consent for Operation (CFO) under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Often, CFEs are obtained by developers, who make every effort to save space while designing and constructing these STPs. Resultantly, most of the STPs are located underground in cramped and confined spaces. The developers then transfer the maintenance of the apartments to respective Residential Welfare Associations who are required to obtain and/or renew the CFOs. In many instances of such deaths, the STPs were found to be operating without a valid CFO, but KSPCB hadn’t taken any action to shut the plants down. In March 2021, the KSPCB had taken some tentative steps by issuing an Official Memorandum (OM) on STPs prescribing a few basic precautionary measures, but this OM was subsequently withdrawn citing lack of powers under the the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to make such prescriptions. This leaves us with a situation where, owing to these environmental regulations, thousands of killing fields in the form of sewage treatments plants have sprung up across the city, and while multiple authorities have been tasked with implementation of these regulations to protection the environment, none of these authorities are willing to shoulder the responsibility of protecting lives of those who are made to work at these treatment plants.   

Recommendations

  1. Disbursal of compensation of Rs 30 lakh to the families of each of the deceased workers should be ensured in accordance with the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India [Writ Petition 324 of 2020].
  2. The families of Mr. Anand and Mr. Shashikumar should be provided with rehabilitation in accordance with the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. 
  3. A comprehensive and effective regulatory framework for Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) should be enacted which should include suitable amendments to the following laws:-
    1. Municipal laws related to Building Plan approval to ensure safe design of STPs from the point of maintenance;  
    2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 governing the issuance of Consent for Establishment (CFE) and Consent for Operation (CFO) under which the terms of these consents should include safety protocols to be followed for maintenance of STPs
    3. Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act prescribing the obligations of the house-owners and the Residential Welfare Association (RWAs) with respect to ensuring safety of STP maintenance workers, provision of appropriate training and the punishment for non-discharge of these obligations. 
S. No.Place of IncidentDate of IncidentNo. of Persons DeceasedName of the DeceasedCase Details
1Shantinivas Apartment
Goraguntepalya
18.10.20162Venkatramana (24 years)
Manjunath (30 years)
Yeshwanthpur PS
CR 402/2016
2Jatti Dwarakamai Apartments, Whitefield24.04.20171Prithivi Raj (23 years)Whitefield PS
CR 197/2017
3ND Sepal Apartments
Somasundarapalya
06.01.20183Madegowda (45 years),
Srinivas (52 years)
Narayanswamy (43 years)
Bandepalya PS
CR 6/2018
4Prestige Langleigh Apartments, ECC Road, Whitefield 03.02.20181Rajappa (38 years)Whitefield PS
CR 46/2018
5Yamloka Restaurant
AECS Layout
13.02.20182Ramu (25 years)
Ravi (28)
HAL PS
CR 48/2018
6Prestige Falcon City
Konanakunte
04.02.20232Ravikumar (39 years)
Dilip Kumar Jena (24 years)
Konanakunte PS
CR 45/2023
7Shahi Exports Pvt Ltd.,
Hosur Main Road
23.12.20232K Anand (41 years)
T R Shashikumar (51 years)
Parappana Agrahara PS
CR 729/2023

COVID Relief Work (May 2021)

The second wave of COVID19 infections in Karnataka led to the imposition of lockdown in Karnataka from April 27, and it was extended upto June 7, 2021. In the relief package that the Karnataka government has announced, no measure have been undertaken for those working as manual scavengers. Thamate with assistance from Azim Premji Philanthropic Intitatives provided ration kits to over 2100 families across 6 districts of the state as shown in Table below. The Ration kit consisted of rice (10 kg), ragi/finger millet (10 kg), Tur Dal/pigeon pea (1 kg), sugar and jaggery (1 kg each) and other essentials like tea powder, salt, groundnut, cooking oil and soaps.

DistrictNumber of Families
Davangere348
Kolar 1060
Bengaluru City250
Bengaluru Rural160
Tumakuru185
Chitradurga100
Total2103

Bengaluru Urban

Bengaluru Rural

Kolar

Bengaluru (2021): Public Awareness Programm on PEMSR Act 2013

Thamate and Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board jointly organized a public awareness programme in Bengaluru between 13-02-2021 and 03-03-2021 on the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 as part of the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge.

The Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge was launched across 243 cities by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with the aim of prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks by ensuring mechanized cleaning. In Karnataka, 7 cities have been included in the challenge, and Bengaluru is one of those seven cities.

As part of the Challenge, a public awareness programme was conducted jointly by Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Thamate-Centre for Rural Empowerment. In this 15-day programme, the songs and street play prepared by Thamate’s cultural team, were performed at 15 different places in the outer areas of Bengaluru Metropolis.

A Brief Report on the Public Awareness Programme can be read below

bwssb-pemsr-act-report

Case Report (28/01/2021): 2 persons die in a manhole in Kalaburagi

Kalaburagi (erstwhile Gulbarga) is the second most densely populated city in Karnataka after Bengaluru, with a density of 8824 persons per sqm. It is also a rapidly expanding city. Huge investments have been made in building the underground drainage network in the city. Just under the Atal Mission For Rejuvenation And Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, 230 kms of sewer lines with over 8000 manholes is nearing completion by Karnataka Urban Water Supply & Drainage Board (KUWS&DB). Apart from AMRUT schemes, sewer lines have been constructed under North Karnataka Urban Sector Infrastructure Programme (NKUSIP) by Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC). As per the Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike estimates, the city now has a 700km-long underground drainage network. But as has become a pattern with sanitation programmes in India (Swachh Bharat Mission or Smart City Mission are prime examples), a lot of investments are made into the infrastructure itself, but not enough attention is paid to the operation and maintenance of this infrastructure. In other words, those who design and implement these projects hardly ever bother about those who would end up cleaning these toilets, manholes and sewer lines. For Kalaburagi city, the KUWS&DB which is in-charge of maintenance of the underground drainage system, has exactly 3 Sucking and Jetting Machines and 1 Desilting machine!

As a result not only is informal manual scavenging work rampant, even those sanitation workers who are hired by the KUWS&DB itself, either directly or through contractors, routinely get inside manholes and clear blockages. According to activists who work with the safaikarmachari community in the city, there are 800-1000 workers who engage in various forms of manual scavenging in Kalaburagi city, spread over Tarphel, Indiranagar, Ghazipura, Santraswadi, Mahboob Nagar, Azadpur Road, Tipu Chowk, Panchasheelanagar and Umar colony localities. The workers belong to Valmiki (Dalit) and Muslim community in equal numbers. This singular fact explains why crores have been spent on building sewer lines but small investments in functioning mechanical equipment like Sucking and Jetting Machines and Desilting machines which could prevent loss of precious lives, is oft en an afterthough.

Out of the estimated 800-1000 persons engaged in manual scavenging in the city, only 243 persons were identified as manual scavengers by the Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike in 2018 through ‘surveys’ which were essentially one-day camps where self-declaration forms were invited from those engaged in manual scavenging. The process was in complete violation of the survey protocol prescribed by the Prohibition of Engagement as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 and the Rules thereunder. Unsurprisingly, the half-hearted attempt by the Mahanagara Palike left out several hundreds of workers, who continue to make a living through this hazardous work in absence of any rehabilitation from the government. 

Among them are the 25-30 workers residing in Umer colony, whose families have been engaged in manual scavenging for several generations. 55-year old Burhan Sheikh, a resident of Umer colony, started working for  KUWS&DB in 1982 at a salary of INR 270 per month as a sanitation worker. He used to clear sewer blockages with a bamboo stick. Before him, his father used to be engaged in the same work. Burhan has not been registered as a manual scavenger since, as per the logic of Mahanagara Palike, he now has a permanent job as a UGD worker in KUWS&DB. Several members of Burhan Sheikh’s family including his sons and his grand-son also joined him in this work as sanitation workers under KUWS&DB but on a contract basis. 

While rest of the city is being connected to Underground drainage, places like Umer Colony where safaikarmacharis reside have open drains

Burhan Sheikh had lost his older son, Mahboob Sheikh, about 5 years ago. Mahboob Sheikh was opening a sewer chamber when he complained of discomfort in his chest. Instead of taking him to hospital, the KUWS&DB contractors sent him back to his house. After cycling back to his house in Umer Colony, Mahboob Sheikh collapsed and died. KUWS&DB neither paid any compensation to his family, nor offered any job to any of his family members on compassionate grounds.

On the morning of 28th January 2021, Burhan Sheikh’s son Lal Ahmad (36) got a call from the contractor, who asked them to come to the junction road between Kailash Nagar and Mahalaxmi Layout. The sewer line flowing along the road had been blocked for several months and the KUWS&DB had been receiving constant complaints from the residents. Lal Ahmad, Rashid Sheikh (Burhan’s grandson) and Raj Ahmad (Burhan Sheikh’s youngest son), Tasneem Sheikh and two other residents of Umer Colony, who usually work together, reached the spot where the UGD was blocked. As per eye-witness accounts, the Sucking and Jetting Machine which was called, was unable to clear the blockage because of the presence of silt and stone pieces blocking the sewer line. When the lone Desilting Machine was called, it was unavailable. The contractor then asked the workers to get down inside the man-hole and clear the blockage with a bamboo-stick. When the workers refused to take the risk, the contractor promised to clear their pending 3-4 months’ wages, if they did this one task. All this while, the contractor and the private company supervisor were in touch with  KUWS&DB officials. 

Desperate for getting their pending wages, Rashid Sheikh first entered the 18ft manhole and tried to clear the blockage with a bamboo stick. As soon as the silt and stones were cleared, the septage and noxious gases spurted out from the sewer line onto Rashid Sheikh’s face. He started to lose consciousness and tried to climb back up but was unable to do so. Lal Ahmad went down to bring back Rashid but the concentration of noxious gases was so high that he too became unconscious and fell inside the manhole. Raja Ahmad, also fell in attempting to pull out his colleagues. The other three workers and the contractor who were outside the manhole brought a rope and were able to pull out Raja Ahmad since he was closer to ground level. But Lal Ahmad and Rashid Sheikh had fallen deep inside the manhole, and they could only be pulled out after a JCB was called in to break open the manhole. Both Lal Ahmad and Rashid Sheikh were dead on the spot while Raja Ahmad was rushed to the District Hospital in a serious condition. 

The subsequent events followed the usual script – the police didn’t register an FIR till few organizations staged a rasta roko protest. When the FIR was filed, weaker provisions of IPC (Sec 304A – Negligence) were invoked instead of more appropriate sections (IPC 304 Part II – Culpable Homicide) and while the list of accused included KUWS&DB officials, their names were mis-spelt in the FIRs. The KUWS&DB first tried to negotiate the compensation amount with the family and settled on Rs 5 lakh which is in complete violation of the Supreme Court directions in Safai Karamchari Andolan vs Union of India

The statements of officials from Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike and the KUWS&DB tried to paint this as an accident. According to them, the workers slipped and fell into the manhole. The workers can be seen in their undergarments in the pictures from the spot. Why would they remove their clothes if the manhole was being cleaned through a machine? How would three people slip all at once and fall into the manhole? The Chief Engineer, Kalaburagi Division, KUWS&DB even claimed that the workers “would have been drunk, don’t you know these people?” and suggested “de-addiction counseling” as a preventive measure! Conversation at Umer Colony with others who work as manual scavengers revealed that it was not uncommon for contractors to ask workers to get inside the manholes. The workers indicated several places like Basaveshwara Hospital etc where they have gone inside manholes. But the government keeps claiming that there is no manual scavenging in Karnataka!

Report in Kannada published in February 2021 edition of Slum Jagatthu Monthly Magazine.

Gulburga-MS-death-Incident-report-Kannada

Fact-finding Report by Safaikarmachari Kavalu Samithi-Karnataka

gulburga-FFT

Files

Press Statement (27-06-2020): Government should take urgent steps to protect pourakarmikas from contracting COVID-19

PRESS STATEMENT

Date: 27-06-2020

To,

The Editor(s)/Reporter(s)

Bengaluru

Subject: Demanding issuance of strict directions to all Urban Local Bodies including Town Panchaaths, Town Municipal Councils, City Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations to provide all protective and life-saving equipments to pourakarmikas, who are risking their lives while doing sanitation work to prevent spread of COVID-19 to general public; and to take urgent steps to protect them from contracting the virus.

23 pourakarmikas workers under BBMP have tested Corona positive on 27-06-2020” was reported by several news reports.

We had warned against this possibility in our letter dated 15-05-2020 to the Director of Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA). In the same letter, we had described how in Pavagada taluka in Tumukuru district, pourakarmikas were being made to clean areas put under quarantine because of spread of COVID-19, without providing minimal protective equipments.

In its circulars dated 27-03-2020 and 09-05-2020, DMA had informed the officials of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) regarding provision of protective equipments and creating necessary awareness among pourakarmikas. But many officials didn’t take these required steps. Till today, pourakarmikas are not being provided face masks and other protective gears of good and usable quality (the ones which officials and elected representatives use themselves) anywhere. Even now, pourakarmikas involved in loading of waste on lorries, autos and tractors and its disposal, and UGD workers have not been provided protective equipments in adequate numbers.

No awareness is being provided to the workers on how to protect themselves. Only their temperatures are being checked through thermometers every 2-3 days. In the work areas of pourakarmikas, basic facilities like drinking water, toilets, resting rooms etc are not available. The quarterly (3 months) medical checkup that is required to be done for all pourakarmikas is not being done (For example, by ULBs in Tumkuru district).

It appears prima facie that it is because of this willful negligence of the officials that 19 pourakarmikas in Bengaluru have contracted COVID-19. Following steps are urgently required to protect all pourakarmikas across the state:-

  1. Workers above 50 years in age should be given leave with full pay.
  2. The work timings for pourakarmikas should be limited to between 6:00 am to 10:30 am to minimize their exposure to COVID-19.
  3. Comprehensive and quality protective equipment including face masks, head gear, hand gloves, apron, slippers and boots; and necessary protective vaccination should be provided periodically. DMA should provide regular reports on these steps, which should be made available on DMA website in the interest of transparency.
  4. As per the orders issued by the Urban Development Department, pourakarmikas should be provided periodic medical checkup and vaccination.
  5. Basic facilities like toilets, drinking water, resting rooms etc. which are most essential for women pourakarmikas, should be compulsorily made available. If any pourakarmika falls ill at the workplace, medical care should be made available immediately.
  6. Immediate action should be taken on incidents of atrocities and violence against women pourakarmikas at workplace.
  7. In some areas, the morning meal is being supplied through Indira Canteens. This food is not nutritious and is often of bad quality. Also, there is a difference between funds allotted per worker and the per plate rate of the food supplied. Hence, pourakarmikas should be provided good quality morning meal from a different eatery, and not Indira canteens.
  8. It is a general practice for officials and elected representatives to deploy their power and force to make pourakarmikas clean toilets within their private homes. Because of fear of reprisal, pourakarmikas are not able to come forward and voice their opposition. This practice should be stopped immediately.

Dr. K B Obalesh

Member, State Monitoring Committee under the PEMSR Act 2013

Government of Karnataka

Ph: 9742486468

Files

COVID-19: Relied work by Safaikarmachari Kavulu Samithi-Karnataka

The sudden and unplanned announcement of nation-wide lockdown on 24th March 2020, has severely affected those who depend for their livelihood on the banned profession of manual scavenging. While the unplanned shutdown and lack of preparedness of the government has hit all workers in the informal sector hard, but the impact has been particularly severe for those engaged in manual scavenging, since government refuses to acknowledge the existence of the work and those who continue to enagage in this prohibited occupation and has refused to rehabilitate them on a sustainable basis.

With the lockdown, most workers were unable to get any work and thus required relief support. Safaikarmachari Kavulu Samithi-Karnataka, quikcly reached out to friends and supporters and appealed for funds. Within a week of the lockdown, ration-kits were distributed to the workers in Bengaluru (215) and Kolar districts (80).

Relief Work in Bengaluru

Relief Work in Kolar

Bengaluru Rural

Tumkuru

Press Note (26-03-2020): Negligence of the State government regarding the impact on Safaikarmacharis of the frighteningly infactious COVID-19 disease and the lockdown announced by the government!

Press Note

Negligence of the State government regarding the impact on Safaikarmacharis of the frighteningly infactious COVID-19 disease and the lockdown announced by the government!

Safaikarmacharis/pourakarmikas daily clean the streets, open sewers, human unirine and excreta in community and public toilets and dispose off dead animals under various types of Urban Local Bodies and Gram panchayats in the State of Karnataka. Infectious diseases like COVID-19 can quickly spread among those engaged in such unclean occupations is fact known to everyone. But is it enough to just thank people engaged in these occupation by clapping and beating utensils? Can this prevent spread of infection among people engaged in these occupations? Those who have always practice untouchability against pourakarmikas, don’t even offer a glass of drinking water, don’t even give basic respect to them, can they just clap for 5 minutes and do away with casteism, indignity and inhumanity of decades? Shouldn’t those giving such noble advice introspect?

During the announcement of a economic package by the Union Finance Minister yesterday in the context of the Corona Lock-down, should have at least shown minimal care and respect towards safaikarmacharis working in urban and rural areas, by announcing specific measures especially for them, but she didn’t announce any such specific measures. Additionally, the Circular issued by the Director, DMA (Directorate of Municipal Administration) ಖ್ಯೆ:ಘೌನಿ/೩೫/ಘವನ/೨೦೧೯-೨೦ dated: 19.೦3.2020 is just an eye-wash. It is a well-known fact that DMA officials have been always treated pourakarmikas with discrimination, but in such emergency situation at least they should have shown some concern towards pourakarmikas belonging to Dalit communities.

Steps to be taken immediately:

Workers with age over 50 years should be exempted from work and allowed to avail of paid leave.

  • Additional Transport allowance of minimum Rs 300/- per day should be given to all pourakarmikas.
  • Provide all necessary protective equipment (such as mask, gumboot, glasses, front body closure, hand sanitizer, soap, etc.) to protect the health of the workers.
  • If any pourakarmika of any urban or rural part of the state is found to be infected by Corona virus, then the concerned officials should be held responsible and punishment should be given as per law.
  • Pourakarmikas should be harassed and forced to do unclean jobs.
  • Monthly salaries should be paid regularly.
  • Till the lock-down ends, the timings of the work should be limited to 6:30 am -10:30 (as per the rules adopted by the BBMP)
  • Proper screening and treatment should be initiated immediately for the depennts of pourakarmikas.
  • Any pourakarmika showing any illness should be promptly screened and sent on leave with pay.
  • Officers must themselves take action to ensure that there is adequate food security in the homes of pourakarmikas
  • The medicines used by the pourakarmikas on a daily basis should be supplied by the department.
  • Ensure clean drinking water, sanitation and cleanliness in residential areas of pourakarmikas.
  • All basic amenities including drinking water, toilets, bath soap etc. should be made available at the workplaces of pourakarmikas.

We urge local authorities to take all these necessary steps without delay.

Sincerely,

Dr. K. B. Obalesha, Ramachandra and Padma. M.

State Conveners and members of the State Monitoring Committee, PEMSR Act 2013, Karnataka

ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆ (೨೬.೦೩.೨೦೨೦): ಭಯಾನಕ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಮೀಕ ರೋಗ ಕೊರೊನಾ ಮತ್ತು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಘೋಷಿಸಿರುವ ಲಾಕ್ಡೌನ್ಪೌರಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಗುತ್ತೀರವ ಪರಿಣಾಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ!

ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆ

ಮಾನ್ಯರೇ,

ಭಯಾನಕ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಮೀಕ ರೋಗ ಕೊರೊನಾ ಮತ್ತು ರ‍್ಕಾರ ಘೋಷಿಸಿರುವ ಲಾಕ್ಡೌನ್ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಗುತ್ತೀರವ ಪರಿಣಾಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯ ರ‍್ಕಾರದ ನರ‍್ಲಕ್ಷ!

ರ‍್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವಿಧ ಮಾದರಿಯ ನಗರ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಗ್ರಾಮ ಪಂಚಾಯಿತಿಗಳ ಅಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಫಾಯಿರ‍್ಮಚಾರಿ/ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರು ದಿನ ನಿತ್ಯ ರಸ್ತೆಗಳು, ತೆರೆದ ಚರೆಂಡಿಗಳು, ಸತ್ತ ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳು ವಿಲೇವಾರಿ, ಸಮುದಾಯ ಶೌಚಾಲಯಗಳು, ಸರ‍್ವಜನಿಕ ಶೌಚಾಲಯಗಳ ಮಲ-ಮೂತ್ರ ಸ್ವಚ್ಚಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಇಂತಹ ಅನ್ರ‍್ಮಾಲ್ಯ ಕೆಲಸಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತೋಡಗಿರುವವರಿಗೆ ಶಿಘ್ರವಾಗಿ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಮಿಕ ರೋಗ ಕೊರೊನಾ ಹರಡುವ ಸಂಭವ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಎಂಬುವುದು ಎಲ್ಲಾರಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿದಿರುವ ಸಂಗತಿ, ಆದರೆ ಮೊನ್ನೆ ಜನತಾ ರ‍್ಪ್ಯೂ ಜಾರಿ ಗೋಳಿಸಿ ಸಂಜೆ ೫.೦೦ ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಚಾಪ್ಪಳೆ ತಟ್ಟುವುದು, ಜಾಗಟೆ, ತಟ್ಟೆ,ಲೋಟ ಬಾರಿಸಿ ದನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುವುದು ಎಷ್ಠು ಸರಿ! ಇದರಿಂದ ಇಂತಹ ಅನ್ಯರ‍್ಮಾಲ್ಯ ಕೆಲಸಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವವರಿಗೆ ಸೊಂಕು ಹರಡದಂತೆ ತಡೆಯಲು ಸಾದ್ಯವೇ? ಕೇವಲ ದನ್ಯವಾದಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿದರೆ ಸಾಕೆ? ಅದರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಯಾವತ್ತು ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರನ್ನು ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಗೌರವಿಸದವರು, ಒಂದು ಗ್ಲಾಸ್ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರು ಕೊಡದವರು, ಸದಾ ಅಸ್ಪುಶ್ಯತೆ ಅಚರಿಸಿ-ಅಚರಿಸುವವರು ೫ ನಿಮಿಷ ಚಾಪ್ಪಳೆ ತಟ್ಟಿದರೆ ದಶಕಗಳಿಂದ ನಡೆಸಿದ ಜಾತಿಯತೆ, ಆಗೌರವ, ಕೀಳುತನ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಸರಿಹೋಗುತ್ತೆಯೆ? ಇಂತಹ ಪುಗಸಷ್ಠೆ ಸಲಹೆ ನೀಡಿದವರಾರದು ಯೋಚಿಸಬೇಡವೇ?

ಇನ್ನೂ ನೀನ್ನೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಹಣಕಾಸು ಸಚಿವರು ಕೋರೊನಾ ಕೊರೊನಾ ಲಾಕ್ಡೌನ್ಸಂರ‍್ಭಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಘೋಷಿಸಿರುವ ರ‍್ಥಿಕ ಸೌಲತ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಘೋಷಿಸುವಾಗ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ನಗರ ಮತ್ತು ಗ್ರಾಮೀಣ ಭಾಗದ ಸ್ವಚ್ಚತಾ ಕೆಲಸಮಾಡುವ ಸಫಾಯಿರ‍್ಮಚಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ನರ‍್ಧಿಷ್ಠ ಸೌಲತ್ತುಗಳನ್ನ ಘೋಷಿಸಿ ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಗೌರವ ನೀಡಬಹುದಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಆದರೆ ಅವರು ನರ‍್ಧಿಷ್ಠವಾದ ತರ‍್ಮಾನ ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ, ಇನ್ನೂ ರಾಜ್ಯ ರ‍್ಕಾರದ ಪೌರಾಡಳಿತ ನರ‍್ಧೇಶನಾಲಯದ ನರ‍್ಧೇಶಕರು ಹೋರಡಿಸಿರುವ ಸೂತೋಲೆ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ:ಘೌನಿ/೩೫/ಘವನ/೨೦೧೯-೨೦.ದಿನಾಂಕ:೧೯.೦೩.೨೦ ಕೇವಲ ಕಣ್ಣೋರೆಸುವ ಕೆಲಸ, ಮೊದಲಿಂದಲೂ ಡಿ ಎಂ ಎ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮೀಕರನ್ನ ತಾರತಮ್ಯದಿಂದಲೇ ರ‍್ತಿಸಿರುವುದು ನಮಗೇಲ್ಲಾ ತಿಳಿದಿರುವ ಸಂಗತಿ, ಇಂತಹ ತರ‍್ತು ಸಂರ‍್ಭದಲ್ಲಿಯಾದರೂ ದಲಿತ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕಾಳಜಿ ವಹಿಸಬೇಕಿತ್ತು.

ಸದ್ಯ ಅಗತ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಕೈಗೋಳ್ಳಬೇಕಿರುವುದೆನೆಂದರೆ:

  • ೫೦ ರ‍್ಷ ಮೇಲ್ಪಟವರನ್ನು ಕೆಸಲದಿಂದ ವಿನಾಯ್ತಿ ನೀಡಿ ವೇತನ ಸಹಿತ ರಜೆ ನೀಡಬೇಕು
  • ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರಿಗೆ ಸಾರಿಗೆ ಭತ್ಯೆ ದಿನಕ್ಕೆ ರೂ.೩೦೦/- ಹೆಚ್ಚುವರಿಯಾಗಿ ನೀಡಬೇಕು
  • ಸುಚ್ಚಿತ್ವ ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೋಳ್ಳಲು ಅಗತ್ಯವಾದ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟದ ಸಲಕರಣೆಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಬೇಕು (ಮಾಸ್ಕ್, ಗಮ್ಬೂಟ್, ಗ್ಲಾಸ್, ಪರ‍್ಣ ದೇಹ ಮುಚ್ಚುವಂತ ರ‍್ಪ್ರಾನ್, ಕೈ-ಕಾಲು ತೊಳೆಯಲು ಹ್ಯಾಂಡ್ಸ್ಯಾನಿಟೈಜಾರ್, ಸೋಪ್, ಸೂಕ್ತವಾದ ಸಮವ್ತ್ರ, ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿರುವ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮುಂಜಾಗೃತ ಸಲಕರಣೆಗಳನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸಬೇಕು,
  • ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಯಾವುದೇ ಮೂಲೆಯ ನಗರ-ಗ್ರಾಮೀಣ ಭಾಗದ ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರಿಗೆ ಕೋರೊನಾ ಸೊಂಕು ತಗುಲಿದರೆ ಸಂಭಂದಿಸಿದ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಯೇ ಹೊಣೆಗಾರರು, ಅವರನ್ನು ಕಾನೂನು ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಶಿಕ್ಷೀಸಬೇಕು,
  • ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರ ಮೇಲೆ ದರ‍್ಜನ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿ ಉದ್ದೇಶಪರ‍್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಒತ್ತಾಯದಿಂದ ಅಶುದ್ದ ಕೆಲಸಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಸುವಂತಿಲ್ಲ,
  • ಮಾಸಿಕ ವೇತನವ್ನು ಕಾಲ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಪಾವತಿಸಬೇಕು
  • ಕೋರೊನಾ ಲಾಕ್ಡೌನ್ಮುಗಿಯುವವರೆಗೂ ಕೆಲಸದ ವೇಳೆ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ೬.೩೦ ರಿಂದ ೧೦.೩೦ ಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಗಿಸಬೇಕು, ( ಬಿ ಬಿ ಎಂ ಪಿ ಅಳವಡಿಸಿರುವ ನಿಯಮದಂತೆ)
  • ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರ ಅವಲಂಬಿತರಿಗೆ ಸೂಕ್ತವಾದ ತಪಾಸಣೆ-ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ಯನ್ನು ಈ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಪ್ರರಾಂಬಿಸಬೇಕು,
  • ಯಾರಿಗಾದರೂ ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರಿಗೆ ಸಣ್ಣ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದ ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯ ತೊಂದರಗಳಾದರೂ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಸೂಕ್ತ ತಪಾಸಣೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ವೇತನ ಸಹಿತ ರಜೆ ನೀಡಿ ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿಗೆ ಕಳಿಸಬೇಕು
  • ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರ ಮನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಅಹಾರ ಭದ್ರತೆ ಇದೆಯೇ ಎಂದು ಖುದ್ದು ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಖತ್ರಿ ಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅಗತ್ಯ ಕ್ರಮ ವಹಿಸಬೇಕು,
  • ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರು ನಿತ್ಯ ಸೇವಿಸುವ ಔಷಧಿಗಳನ್ನು ಇಲಾಖೆಯಿಂದಲೆ ಪೂರೈಸಬೇಕು
  • ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರು ವಾಸಿಸುವ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶುದ್ದ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರು, ಸ್ಯಾನಿಟೇಶನ್, ಸ್ವಚ್ಚತೆಯನ್ನು ಜರೂರಾಗಿ ಪೂರೈಸಬೇಕು
  • ಪೌರಕರ‍್ಮಿಕರು ಕೆಲಸದ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರು, ಶೌಚಾಲಯ, ಸ್ನಾನದ ಮನೆ ಸೋಪ್, ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಅಗತ್ಯ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂರೈಸಬೇಕು.

ಇ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ತಪ್ಪದೇ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಪೂರೈಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ.

ದನ್ಯವಾದಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ,

ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ, ರಾಜ್ಯ.ಸಂ.ಸಂಚಾಲಕರು.

ಪದ್ಮ. ಎಂ., ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸಂ.ಸಂಚಾಲಕರು.

ಡಾ.ಕೆ.ಬಿ.ಓಬಳೇಶ, ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸಂಚಾಲಕರು

ಹಾಗೂ ಸದಸ್ಯರುಗಳು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಮೇಲ್ವಿಚಾರಣ ಸಮಿತಿ, ಪಿ ಇ.ಎಂ ಎಸ್ಕಾಯ್ಧೆ ೨೦೧೩, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರ

ಪ್ರೆಸ್_-ನೊಟ್_

Case Report (29/01/2020): 2 persons die in a sewage chamber in Bengaluru

On 25th January, just one day before Republic Day, the management of Sri Svethambar Sthanakwasi Bawees Sampraday Jain Sangha Trust located on the Infantry Road in Shivajinagar Bengaluru, employed Muniyanna (~50 years) and Sidappa (17 years) to clean an approximately 20 feet deep chamber into which sewage was being discharged. Sidappa went in first and fell unconscious. Muniyanna went to save him and he also feel unconcious. Workers working on premises rused to save both of them. Sidappa was broght dead to the hospital while Muniyanna was admitted to the ICU of Bowring hospital. On 29th Janunary 2020, Muniyanna also passed away.

The doctors said that his lungs were filled with sewage. There was foul smelling sewage in the chamber and it was strewn all around the chamber. Despite this, the police officials at the Commercial Street Police Station refused to accept a complaint and file a FIR. Only after a protest outside the mortuary and pressure from lawyers was a FIR filed late evening on 25th January 2020.

Protest

A protest was organized jointly by AICCTU, Safaikarmachari Kavulu Samithi-Karnataka, People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), All India People’s Forum (AIPF) and Karnataka Slum Janadolana on 27th January 2020 at Town Hall in Bengaluru urging government to take urgent steps to stop killig of Dalit workers. Labour Commissioner came and received the memorandum.

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