Women sweepers put to physical, mental torture: NCW

Chennai, Sep 23 (UNI) National Commission for Women (NCW) member Nirmala Venkatesh today said the women sanitary workers in Tamil Nadu were subjected to physical and mental tortures by their male superiors.

Talking to newspersons here, after meeting the City Police Commissioner Latika Saran and other officials, here in the backdrop of complaints received by the Commission from the sanitary workers, she said the women sweepers were harassed by their male superiors and were even sexually abused.

Ms Venkatesh alleged that the sweepers were not provided with uniform, shoes and gloves and their grievances were not redressed by the officials concerned, despite several complaints.

Detailing a specific complaint, under which the NCW member visited the state, she alleged that an official of the Chennai Corporation was outraging the modesty of the complainant and even resorted to bullying measures like compulsory transfer.

Republican Trade Union and the Woman Struggle Committee had registered a complaint with the Corporation Commissionser Vijaya Kumar in this regard, she said. Since there was no respose, a similar complaint was lodged with the Natioanal Commission for SC and ST, she added.

She said when that too, failed to elicit any positive response, the NCW was approached She interacted with the representatives of the sweepers and heard abou their unresolved pleas.

Calling the treatment of women workers in the Corporations as ''inhuman'' she said the complainant was harassed by her male officer and was coerced by a lady police officer to get herself transferred to another division. Referring to the female foeticide, she said this would lead the nation to a dangerous male-female proportion of 3:2.

Focusing on the sweepers, with majority of them belonging to SC and ST, she said the poor and downtrodden were put to harassment and exploitation.

Ms Venkatesh said a report in this connection would be submitted to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Local Administration Minister M K Stalin with recommendation to improve the working conditions of the sweeping class in the State and to take action against the accused.

On the national front, the Commission would push forward the issue of 33 per cent reservation of women in the legislators.

It also demanded more judicial powers for the fast disposal of cases, in which the NCW, would be empowered to pronounce punishments on its own.

A rehabilitation package for the rape victims with compensation upto Rs five lakh would be announced, she said. The UPA Government would also set up a Commission for Children, she added.

UNI