---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.
Date: Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 1:35 PM
Subject: Manual scavenging on despite ban
To:
Manual scavenging on despite ban - The Tribune
http://www.tribunei
Gurdeep Singh Mann, Tribune News Service
Bassi Pathana (Fatehgarh Sahib), April 7
Even after six decades of independence, manual scavenging still goes
on unabated in various districts of Punjab, including Fatehgarh Sahib.
Members of the Safai Karmchari Andolan have identified 12 scavengers
in Bassi Pathana, who clean night soil of influential people for Rs 30
a month.
The scavengers, most of them in their sixties, said they had been
working for the past 20 years.
There is no sewerage connection in some houses of Bassi Pathana and
influential families have dug septic tanks.
After a few years, people like us, have to clear these septic tanks,
said Krishna, a 63-year-old scavenger in Bassi Pathana. She said there
were five more persons doing the job, including three men.
Her colleagues said several times senior government functionaries had
met them and assured jobs, but to no avail.
"During elections, people approach us and offer rehabilitation. We are
even urged to leave this work, but no one tells us the alternative.
These claims fall flat after sometime."
Subhash Divasar, a member of Safai Karmchari Andolan, today submitted
a memorandum to the Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner.
He said, "Despite declaring scavenging an illegal act in 1993,
practice goes on unabated till date." He said the owner of dry toilets
could be put behind bars for one year, besides a fine of Rs 2,000.
He claimed that the municipal council, Bassi Pathana, and the Safai
Karamchari Andolan had jointly found 12 private safai karamcharis
cleaning dry night soil and had come across 23 such toilets in the
town.
He said notices were issued to owners of these toilets and only four
such toilets were razed and the rest continued to exist.
He said such practice was on in Amritsar, Patiala, Sangrur and Jalandhar Cantt.
Owners of these toilets said they did not have any other option but to
employ people to clean their dry night soil, as there was no sewerage
system in the town and lack of money and space to construct septic
tanks.
Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan when contacted said instructions
had been passed to the municipal council through an executive official
to immediately construct community toilets under the low cost
sanitation scheme to end scavenging.
EO Charanjit Singh added that a 15-day notice had been served on
owners and the structures would be demolished by tomorrow. "We will
replace demolished structures with temporary toilets."
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