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State govt. alleged of harassing scavengers by denying salaries'

[email protected] (CD Network)
September 11, 2012

scaveng

Mangalore, September 11: Two women working as 'scavengers' in Udupi for the last 42 years in Udupi are being harassed by the state government, Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag, President, Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi, alleged.

Addressing media persons at Press Club in Mangalore on Tuesday, Mr. Shanbhag said that Akku and Leela have been working as scavengers for last 42 years in Government Women Teachers' Training Institute at Udupi (Karnataka) for a meager basic salary 15/- per month all the way.

From 1971, these two women were repeatedly requesting the higher authorities in the Department of Education to sanction minimum wages given to scavengers /sweepers. In 1999, they approached the Human Rights Protection Foundation, an NGO, for guidance and support. Even after two years of systematic correspondence from the NGO, there was no result. In 2001, they were guided and helped to file a petition with the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal at Bangalore. Soon after filing the case, the Education Department stopped even the meagre salary they have been paying. But the two ladies continued to work without salary in the hope of getting justice from the Law courts. On 25-7-2003, The Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) ordered for the regularization of services of the complainants in 90 days (copy enclosed). But still, nothing happened for fourteen months in spite of repeated representations from these ladies, Mr. Shanbhag said.

On 6-9-2004, the ladies filed contempt proceedings against the government. Immediately, the education department filed an appeal to the Karnataka High Court against the order of KAT. On 4-10-2004, Karnataka High court dismissed the appeal by the government after hearing and ordered the Government to pay the salaries (copy enclosed). Notices were issued for contempt of courts when salaries were not paid. Instead of paying their salaries, in 2005, Karnataka Govt preferred special leave petition before the Supreme Court of India (SLP No: 533/05) challenging the order of Karnataka High Court. On 22 -1-2010, Supreme Court of India passed the judgment ( Civil Appeal NO: 860-861 of 2010, copy enclosed) directing the Karnataka Government to consider the complainants' claim for regularization of employment with the principles laid down by Constitution Bench in State of Karnataka & others Vs Uma Devi & others.

But the scavengers have not received their wages even after two and a half years of the Supreme Court verdict. Now the authorities are saying that the women are not employable because they have reached the retirement age. However, the key point here is that they were indeed below the retirement age when the verdict was pronounced by the Supreme Court, Mr. Shanbhag said

The hapless illiterate women are asking whether there any other court above the Supreme Court of India so that they can get their hard earned salaries, Mr. Shanbhag lamented.


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News Network
May 12,2020

Udupi, May 12: The Coastal Bus Owner’s Association members have approached Deputy Commissioner to permit them to run bus service in the District.

Nearly 80 buses coming under the Coastal Bus Association and they are prepared to run the buses as per the guidelines set by the government. They have also requested RTO officials for permission to operate and are awaiting approval. If the bus service starts operating, many workers like drivers, conductors, cleaners, mechanics will get employment.

Coastal Bus Owners Association President Raghavendra Bhat said that the bus owners must provide services to the public as per regulations set by Deputy Commissioner.

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News Network
February 12,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 12: Hinting at the possibility of a consolidation of ex-Janata Parivar leaders, JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda said Tuesday his party was open to talk to any former Janata leaders, who are at present either in various factions of the Janata Dal or in Congress and BJP. The veteran leader also appreciated Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP's way of work.

At the party's National Executive Committee meeting held here, Gowda said that some ex-Janata Parivar leaders had reached out to him in this regard. His comments come at a time when JD(U) leader Mahima Patel recently rekindled the debate of a unified Janata Parivar.

However, Deve Gowda was clear that he was not interested in pursuing anyone who was happy with the party they were in. "It's a waste of time to pursue someone who has seen success within their party. I am not going to do that. I am willing to persuade only those who are not holding any office at present," he said. He added that he had already asked party leaders in Kerala to take the initiative and figure out ways to bring leaders together. As for other places, it would take him some time to reach out people, he added.

The party, which organised the National Executive Meet here on February 10 and 11, spoke of strategies to rejuvenate the party from the grassroots level. The party is also conducting a membership drive.

'Much to learn from AAP'

There is much to learn from Aam Aadmi Party, which registered a victory in Delhi elections on Tuesday, said Devegowda. "Kejriwal has showed that caste does not matter. There is lesson to be learnt from the work done by AAP," he said. Later in the day, Deve Gowda also wrote a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, congratulating him on his victory.

On the occasion, the party also came up with resolutions to urge the central government to release pending amount of GST it owed to state governments apart from focusing on development of labour, industries and agriculture; to demand the centre to rollback decision on CAA, NRC and NPR and to urge the centre to pass the women's reservation bill.

At the JD(S) National Executive Meet, even as news poured in about the victory of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi elections, the JD(S) leaders celebrated Arvind Kejriwal's victory. Seeing it as an optimistic sign for regional parties across the country, the leaders distributed sweets to mark the hat trick win of Kejriwal.

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News Network
July 31,2020

Bengaluru, July 31: Denying irregularities in covid-19 equipment purchase by the Karnataka government, the state unit of the BJP has issued legal notices to Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar demanding that they apologize or face a defamation suit. 

The notices seek a public apology for the allegations levelled against the government on irregularities in the procurement of Covid-19 equipment and supplies. 

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress president, have been doggedly pursuing allegations of corruption against the BJP government and have demanded a judicial inquiry. 

BJP general secretary N Ravi Kumar said that while the Congress leaders claimed that Rs 4,157 crore was spent during Covid-19, they also allege that the government has not responded to any of the 20 letters written by them. "If the government has not provided any answer to the Opposition, where did they get the figures from," he said.

None of the allegations of corruption is specific and the statements made are factually incorrect. "These statements, without any basis, have been issued calculatedly to lower the image and damage the reputation of the government, the Bharatiya Janata Party, representatives of the party and the ministers in the government," the notice issued on behalf of Ravi Kumar read.

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