Phagwara, December 6
National Commission For Safai Karamcharis chairperson Santosh Chaudhary has condemned a statement by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi published in a book “Karamayog” written by him and published by the Gujarat State Information Department in which Modi allegedly stated “scavenging must have been a spiritual experience for the Balmiki caste.”

Talking to The Tribune here this evening, Chaudhary asked Modi to go through this experience himself for spiritual enlightenment and also for the happiness of the entire society if he felt that manual scavenging was such an enlightening experience. Chaudhary asked those talking about manual scavengers to first go through this experience before saying anything.

Chaudhry said, “Modi’s statement makes us bow our heads in shame before the world community as the entire world looked toward our country with baited breath and admiring the fast and progressive drive that was being made by all and sundry.

She alleged that the Gujarat government headed by Modi could not even make use of the huge funds sent to it under the National Scheme of Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers to end this social evil. An amount of Rs 17 crore was still lying unspent in their coffers, she alleged.

She also alleged that the Gujarat government had filed a false affidavit before the commission and claimed that no scavenging existed in the state. On a round of the state, she found thousands of scavengers engaged in lifting night soil on their heads in several parts, including Porbandar of Mahatma Gandhi. She said after repeated claims that scavenging was still continuing, Modi took private services of Tata Consultancy for a survey which found that scavenging was still continuing.

Chaudhary said she met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today and gave details of the statement of Modi and urged them to take appropriate steps.

Jalandhar, December 6
The Punjab government will form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for helping farmers of the state in marketing their produce, cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh stated this while talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of an interactive meeting with progressive potato growers registered with Markfed for EurepGAP certification here today.

The minister said the SPV would be set up soon as the state government had already passed orders in this regards.

The SPV would work as an advisory group for the farmers. It would provide them a single-window service to advise them on which produce to sow and how to market their produce, he added.

The SPV would also channelise export of different agriculture-related products by getting information about the requirements of different foreign countries and by gathering information about which transport system would be beneficial for farmers for export.

Nawanshahr, December 6
The ongoing renovation work of the local municipal council building has come under clouds. The Municipal Employees Union, by staging a dharna here today, raised voice against the MC’s proposal of providing extra space to the adjoining shopkeepers compromising the building plan.

While terming the proposed move of the local municipal council as a ‘shady deal’ to provide the prime land at throw away price to the shopkeepers, the union alleged no tender had so far been invited for demolition and construction of the municipal council building situated in the heart of the city.

Even, no estimate of expenditure on the proposed construction work has been passed in the MC meeting so far, further alleged the union.

Demanding a high level inquiry into the matter, the union leaders said a part of the existing MC office was demolished few weeks ago with an assurance that a hall would be constructed in that place for the convenience of employees as well as ensuring smooth functioning of the municipal office.

But, now the proposal of providing land to the shopkeepers is being made. The proposed move would further lessen the space in the municipal office, they added.

MC president Lalit Mohan Pathak, when contacted, denied the allegations levelled by the employees union and termed them baseless. The adjoining shopkeepers, who are tenants of the municipal council, have submitted a request in writing that they are ready to double the rent and to give advance money for construction work if they are provided with some extra space to widen their shops.

A meeting of the municipal council members have been called to discuss the matter. Moreover, the dharna by employees on this issue is totally uncalled for, 
said Pathak.