BANGALORE: The High Court on Monday directed the State Government to submit a plan of action report specifying how it will implement the recommendations made by Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) to eradicate manual scavenging in the State within two weeks.The report submitted by the KSLSA Member Secretary Vishwanath V Angadi has recommended that the UGD lines be laid in Bangalore Urban, Belgaum, Raichur, Tumkur, Gulbarga, Bellary, Bijapur and Dakshina Kannada districts where the population exceeds 20 lakh by 2013 and in the remaining 22 districts where the population is in between 5.5 and 19.5 lakh, by the end to 2016.Jetting machines, cross pool machines and other equipment be provided to the sanitary workers clear the blocks and to minimise the human handling of the sewage.The division bench consisiting of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice H G Ramesh directed the State Government to file its action plan to implement the recommendations in two weeks and adjourned the hearing of the case. COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONSThe following are the recommendations made by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) to eradicate manual scavenging in the State: The government should take steps to provide 100 per cent UGD lines in the taluk and district headquarters where there are inadequate UGD lines and ensure that the UGD lines are laid in all the 56 Municipal Councils, 66 Town Municipal Councils and 13 City Municipal Councils. Sewerage workers be employed on permanent basis and outsourcing the maintenance of sewage lines be stopped as the contractors employ the workers on contract basis and pay them meagre wages. The government may be directed to monitor the health of the sewerage workers through periodical health check-ups besides providing them oxygen for breathing and other equipment. Stringent actions be taken if there is any violation of employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines. The manholes be sealed in all the thickly populated areas and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and other agencies be directed to light up the entry points in all the UGD lines. Mobile jetting machines be used to clear the blockages in the UGD in the narrow roads and a 24-hour helpline be set up to help the public and sanitary workers.The sanitary workers be paid a minimum wage of `226.2 per day or `5,881 per month and their wages be revised periodically.
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