Education Department owes 2 women scavengers over Rs 11 lakh

 Two women, who were working as scavengers at the Government Women Teachers’ Training Institute in Udupi, have been fighting to get their basic salaries from the Karnataka Education Department.

 The Education Department which owes them over Rs 11 lakh each as back payments since 1971 has failed to even follow the Supreme Court verdict in the case.

 “The Supreme Court in January 2010 passed a judgement directing the State government to consider the complainants’ claim for regularisation of employment.

 But even two-and-ahalf years after this verdict, they have not received their payment,” said Ravindranath Shanbhag, president, Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi.

 Akku and Leela joined the institute in 1971 and worked there as temporary employees for the first six months.

 “We were told that once the government approves our posts, our salaries will be regularised and arrears will be released.

 We requested the higher authorities in the department to sanction minimum wages given to scavengers.

 In 1991, we approached the Human Rights Protection Foundation for guidance,” said Akku.

 Leela said that in 2001 they filed a petition with the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) at Bangalore.

 “But after that, the education department stopped even the Rs 15 basic salary that we had been getting.

 We continued working without salary in the hope of getting justice from the courts,” she said.

 In 2003, the KAT ordered the regularisation of services of the complainants in 90 days.

 Since nothing materialised after 14 months, in 2004 the women filed a contempt proceedings against the government.

 “The department then filed an appeal to the High Court against the KAT order.

 In 2004, HC dismissed this appeal and ordered the government to pay the salaries.

 Notices were also issued for contempt of court when salaries were not paid.

 In 2005, the government made a special leave petition before the Supreme Court challenging the HC order,” Shanbhag said.

 The women, addressing a press conference in the city on Tuesday, said that appealing to the SC for contempt of court by the government would be a costly affair and they have no money left to sustain themselves