Don’t sell votes for money: Min

Mysuru: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment A Narayanaswamy on Tuesday urged pourakarmikas and people from socially disadvantaged sections of society to cast their votes carefully. He urged them not to sell their votes for money or any other offers to ensure that their demands are met.
Speaking at the state-level workshop on effective implementation of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act organised by the Karnataka State Commission for Safai Karmacharis and Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Development Corporation, he said that the pain of the pourakarmikas is not understood by anyone except the people of the community.
He handed over benefits to various pourakarmika under various schemes of the Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Development Corporation. He expressed displeasure over the absence of senior officials from the district administration, and people’s representatives. “As long as politicians have the mentality of getting votes with money, their attitude will not change towards pourakarmikas. So, vote without any temptations,” Narayanaswamy said. He said that there should be respect for the work of civic workers.
Although the practice of manual scavenging has been banned, it still exists in some places. Strict action should be taken regarding this. The state government’s decision on regularization of services of direct paid civic workers is welcome, he said. The government is committed to social education and development of civic workers, he said.
Venkatesan, chairman of the National Safai Karmachari Commission, said manual scavenging is banned and warned contractors not to force civic workers to clean manholes manually.
M Sivanna, president of Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission, said efforts will be made to provide career help to civic workers and their family members. Karnataka Safai Karmachari Development Corporation president Venkatesh, Jagdish Hiremani, former member of Karnataka State Safai Karmacharis Commission, were present.