-- Express News Service, 21 February 2005
 
A bill will be presented soon in the parliament to bring municipal corporations and municipal councils under Labour Act. This was disclosed by Santosh Chaudhary, Chairperson of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, while addressing mediapersons here today.

Chaudhary was in the city to attend a function organised by Central Bank SC/ST/OBC Employees' Association to celebrate the 25th Dr Ambedkar Jayanti at Nehru Sidhant Kendra.

Citing that only 15 per cent of the safai karamcharis in the country are employed on regular basis while the remaining work as ad-hoc employees, Chaudhary said, ''The bill would protect the rights of safai karamcharis and efforts would be made to effect their permanent employment.'' She further said that this was informed by Central Labour Minister Sis Ram Ola at a meeting with her a few days ago.

The chairperson said, ''The bank officers should give loans to SCs, STs and OBCs with minimal formalities. Punjab government and Government of India have instituted many schemes for these people but these schemes can prove fruitful only if they get loans in time.''

Chaudhary further said that banks should organise special awareness camps for them so that they could reap benefits of various loan schemes.

Paying floral tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar, she said, ''What we are today, it is all due to him.'' She appealed to all the well-to-do to help the downtrodden people in any way they could.

All India Central Bank SC/ST/OBC Karamchari Federation submitted a memorandum demanding jobs for safai karamcharis working in central banks. The gathering was also addressed by G P Ramullu, president All India Federation, North Delhi, H S Bangar, V K Sarangal and H S Sarabha.