Karnataka govt to roll out Rs 1000 crore rehabilitation project for 7,483 manual scavengers: Report
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Social Welfare Department is likely to roll out a Rs 1,000-crore one-time rehabilitation project aimed at providing housing and dignified livelihoods to all 7,483 identified manual scavengers in the state, marking one of the largest state-led initiatives to eradicate the practice, according to a report by The New Indian Express.
Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa mentioned that the state government is committed to permanently rehabilitating all identified manual scavengers by offering them housing, sustainable livelihoods, and access to social protection schemes.
“The project is in its early stages of formulation, and we are holding consultations to understand the best way forward,” TNIE quoted the minister as saying. He reiterated that the goal is to ensure manual scavengers can lead a dignified life and emphasised that the government aims to provide housing for all of them simultaneously, rather than implementing the project in phases where some may have to wait.
The government wants to complete the project by November 26, 2026, to mark Constitution Day, TNIE report quoted its sources as saying.
A senior official stated that the department has initiated discussions with the Housing Department and is considering three plans for rehabilitation. The first plan involves constructing houses for families of manual scavengers who already own plots. The second plan includes those without land, with the department planning a group housing scheme in rural areas where land will be identified to build homes for groups of four to five families. The third plan focuses on group housing in urban areas, with the department searching for land near Metro stations or other accessible locations.
All three options are under consideration, and a survey will be conducted to assess the number of families and estimate the costs, as the construction expenses will vary depending on the model.
Of the 7,483 identified manual scavengers, 1,625 are within the BBMP limits, followed by 1,381 in Mysuru and 1,224 in Kolar. In contrast, Vijayapura and Bagalkot have no recorded manual scavengers.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
