Chairman directs immediate action on recruitment, housing and rehabilitation schemes during interaction at Tumkur Central Library
Tumakuru: Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman P. Raghu on Monday strongly criticised officials for failing to fill long-pending vacant civic worker posts in urban local bodies, despite clear government orders mandating immediate recruitment.
Speaking at an interaction programme with civic workers held at the Tumkuru Central Library today, organised in coordination with the Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission, the Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Corporation, District Administration, Zilla Panchayat and Tumkur Mahanagara Palike, Raghu expressed deep dissatisfaction over what he termed “administrative negligence.”
He stated that although government orders to fill vacancies in municipal councils and municipalities were already issued, chief officers of the concerned urban local bodies had failed to act promptly.
“The order is with the officials. Yet, due to delay and negligence, the recruitment process has not begun. This is irresponsible,” he remarked.
During the meeting, Raghu instructed the Chief Officer of Shira Municipality to issue a notice to the Planning Director of the District Urban Development Cell and urged that proposals for recruitment be submitted immediately for higher approval.
Demand for Housing and Rehabilitation
The Commission Chairman also addressed civic workers’ demands for housing and site allotment. He directed authorities to ensure fair distribution of benefits due to Safai Karmacharis under existing welfare schemes.
Obalesh, a member of the Civil Workers Awareness Committee, pointed out that in 2002, 157 Safai Karmachari families were identified in Tumakuru district. However, rehabilitation measures have remained largely unimplemented. He stated that only two families received vehicles under the Sarathi scheme, and seven families were granted loans, while further financial assistance remains pending due to the absence of District Awareness Committee meetings.
He further noted that 17 acres of land had already been earmarked for plot distribution to municipal workers, but the allotment process had stalled.
Raghu directed Municipal Corporation Commissioner Shubha to expedite action on land allocation and emphasised that society owes a debt to sanitation workers. He called upon the administration to ensure that all entitled facilities are provided strictly as per rules for the upliftment of the community.
