Harshavardhan becomes a trend setter by allotting sites to Pourakarmikas
Nanjangud: BJP MLA B Harshavardhan has created a record of sorts in the state by distributing site allotment possession certificates to a group of pourakarmikas in Nanjangud taluk.
Many families of pourakarmikas have been waiting for no less than four decades for sites and houses to lead life with dignity. But that has materialised now, thanks to the concerted efforts of Harshavardhan, who relentlessly worked towards it.
Nowhere in the state, pourakarmikas have received land possession certificates, while Harshavardhan has made it possible in his constituency.
Pourakarmika families had been living in dilapidated huts in Hullahalli, Nanjangud taluk, for the past 40 years. After seeing the plight of the workers, Harshavardhan relentlessly worked towards getting them land possession certificates and finally succeeded in his efforts.
The possession certificates were distributed on the 107th birth anniversary of the late chief minister D. Devaraj Urs. At a programme organised recently jointly by the taluk administration and the National Festival Celebrations Committee at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Bhavan, Mr. V Srinivas Prasad, MP, handed over the possession certificates to the beneficiaries. Harshavardhan presided over the programme.
About 50 years ago, it was Harshavardhan’s grandfather, B. Basavalingappa, who as minister had banned the night soil system. To mark 50 years of doing away with the evil system on July 26, 2022, the land possession certificates were distributed to the Pourakarmikas. The MLA had completed the process of keeping the certificates within five days, as they were scheduled to be distributed on August 6, the birthday of Srinivas Prasad. However, the MP was unavailable as he was in New Delhi to participate in the election of the vice president of India. Later, it was planned to distribute the certificates on August 15 to mark the Azadiki Amrit Mahotsav. But due to persistent confusion, it could not be held. But finally, Harshavardhan ensured that the certificates reached the needy.
In the Devaraj Urs cabinet, B Basavalingappa was municipal administration minister. As minister, he could take tough measures to do away with the night soil carrying system. Now his grandson has been able to carry forward the good deeds. It is one of the milestones in the public life of Harshavardhan to provide sites for the pourakarmikas in Hullahalli. It is only in the constituency of Harshavardhan that such an effort is made. It was Basavalingappa who had given the name ‘pourakarmikas’ to the civic workers, while his grandson had provided permanent shelter for them.
The Pourakarmikas, who have been residing in the area for nearly three to four decades, are engaged in the cleaning work in the gram panchayat limits. They had approached the National Safai Karmachari, the State Safai Karmachari, and the then chief ministers. But there was no positive response. Even the protests conducted by the pourakarmikas under the banner of Dalits’ associations had failed to draw the attention of the government to their problems.
The tahsildar had identified less than an acre of land where an old Nadakacheri office was located. But it was too small a place for a housing colony. The MLA had identified a piece of land near the BCM hostel. But due to the Corona-19 infused pandemic situation and the end of the gram panchayat term, the housing work did not move forward. However, the MLA continued his efforts to locate a suitable plot of land.
When Harshavardhan had visited the colony of Pourakarmikas, he had assured them that they would get permanent accommodation. “I will not show you some land and ask you to build huts. Because such ad hoc measures would force you to vacate. I will ensure that you get a proper layout which has basic infrastructure like roads and drainage etc. I will distribute possession certificates to you. As the grandson of Basavalingappa, I will never let you down,” was the assurance given by him to the Pourakarmikas.
The BJP MLA has been successful in drawing the attention of the government to the plight of pourakarmikas and has been able to get 1.1 acres of land allotted for the housing. The colony is named after B. Basavalingappa.
MLA Harshavardhan is making concerted efforts to bring pourakarmikas to the mainstream during the 75th year of Indian Independence. He has plans to build a colony for the pourakarmikas of Mahadevanagar in the taluk.
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