The Hindu - Andhra Pradesh 11.08.2009

GHMC’s assurance on housing to sanitary staff

HYDERABAD: The GHMC has assured the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis that it would take up with the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district Collectorates the issue of allotting housing to sanitary staff from among the projects being taken up for the poor.

Special Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu also offered to waive deposits sought from prospective Build, Own and Transfer (BOT) developer for constructing modern toilets if the application came from the sanitary groups concerned.

However, increasing the minimum wage from Rs. 3,900 was a policy decision to be taken by the government, he said.

Earlier, K.B. Krishna Murthy, Member, National Commission for Safai Karmacharis took up these issues with the officials after they were highlighted by sanitary staff at GHMC head office on Monday.

Later, talking to presspersons, Mr. Murthy praised the initiatives taken by the State government towards helping the safai karmacharis.

About 18 lakh have benefited from waiver of loans of less than Rs. 1 lakh amounting to Rs. 1,176.80 crore, he said.