Udupi : Narayan, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Safai Karamcharis, said that safai karmacharis working in urban local bodies in Udupi district should be provided all facilities allotted to them by the State government.

Chairing a review meeting of local bodies at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Monday, he said that not just civic workers but waste-collectors and those who engaged in road construction are safai karamcharis and their salaries should be paid on time.

The local bodies should ensure that contractors provide Provident Fund and ESI facilities and those who do not should be blacklisted and their Earnest Money Deposit confiscated, he said.

He directed officials to construct houses for safai karamcharis and provide education and education scholarships to their children and he wanted a survey of the families of safai karmacharis to be done.

He said that legal action would be taken against officials and contractors who make safai karamcharis clean open manholes and they would be arrested and fined Rs. 2 lakh. Instead, the urban local bodies should use sucking equipment to clean open manholes.

The funds provided for the welfare of safai karamcharis should be fully utilised and if these funds remained unutilised, stern action would be taken against the officers.

Safai karmacharis should be provided with uniforms and also safety kit during their work and they should be made to undergo medical tests twice a year and be provided they should also be provided identity cards, Mr. Narayan said.