Speaking to the media in his office on Friday, Meena said the death of the workers was purely accidental.
“I knew Prasad Kutty and the other two Karmacharis, who died in the mishap, personally. They had met me several times before and I had even advised them not to undertake such work at any cost,” he added.
Advice taken
Meena said the workers had whole-heartedly followed his advice and started a new life using government facilities.
“They were, however, pulled back to the work of cleaning inspection chambers. Hoping to get government jobs by working so, they ended up victims of the accident,” alleged Meena.
Manual labour still used
There are already claims that there are no dry toilets in Kolar Gold Fields. Yet, people are called to clean drains.
“Suresh Kumar, the Urban Development Minister, who visited the district last month, had instructed that the practice be stopped altogether,” he reminded.
Training for jobs
As many as 140 Karmacharis were employed by Kolar Gold Fields CMC for three months and then trained under the Dr B R Ambedkar Development Board. A project was also planned to employ them for various jobs in the private sector on the basis of the training.
“Scholarship up to Rs 90,000 has already been released to educate their children,” Meena explained. “There are still about 60 posts empty in the outsourcing section of the district administration. Efforts are also being made to employ eligible ex-Karmacharis for these jobs.”
The Deputy Commissioner, however, alleged that the Karmacharis were being misled by several people, who advised them to apply only for government jobs.
“Sucking machines are already being used by both Kolar and Kolar Gold Fields CMCs to clean inspection chambers. All municipalities in the district are instructed to purchase one such machine each. The public can borrow the machines from the municipalities to clean the chambers,” said Meena.
The Deputy Commissioner requested the citizens not to employ Karmacharis for the work under any circumstance.
Suspend, transfer officers: DSS
Members of the Karnataka Dalita Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) on Friday demanded transfer of Kolar Deputy Commissioner as well as suspension of Kolar Gold Fields Deputy Superintendent of Police and Robertsonpet Sub-inspector, in the backdrop of the death of the Safai Karmacharis, reports DHNS from Kolar Gold Fields.
Speaking at a meeting in the city, DSS taluk convener C Eerappa said the families of the victims in the accident should be given at least Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia and also government jobs. “The false case registered at the police station against the DSS activists should also be withdrawn,” he urged.