Mysuru Takes Steps to Support Manual Scavengers

In a significant development in Mysuru, Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikant Reddy has directed the Mysuru City Corporation to allocate two acres of land within a month for constructing a community hall dedicated to the Adi Dravida community of sanitation workers in Hebbal Colony. This initiative is part of a district-level awareness meeting focused on the prohibition of manual scavenging and the rehabilitation of individuals previously engaged in this work.

Despite a nationwide ban on manual scavenging, efforts to rehabilitate those affected are ongoing. Many former manual scavengers have yet to receive land or title deeds promised under rehabilitation schemes. Addressing this issue, Reddy also instructed the authorities to issue title deeds for land in Chilkund village, Hunsur taluk, where residents have lived for approximately 50 years.

Additionally, Reddy emphasized the importance of regular health check-ups for municipal sanitation workers, mandating quarterly examinations. He also called for similar health checks for sanitation workers under the jurisdiction of local panchayats.

These steps are intended to enhance support and improve conditions for those transitioning from manual scavenging to new opportunities, reflecting ongoing efforts to address past injustices and ensure better living standards for affected communities.