Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 10: Speaking in a press meet that was held on Tuesday, January 9 at Vaikunta Baliga law college, Kunjibettu, to highlight the plight of the family of Shrikanth, a construction worker, who died in an accidental death four years ago, president of human rights foundation, Ravindranath Shanbaug said, "Shrikanth's family was denied and deprived of the compensation amount. His family did not get even a single rupee from the labour department as he was not a registered worker,”
"Even though there is a scheme for payment of Rs two lac as a relief to the family of the deceased, no relief whatsoever was given in this specific case due to ignorance of the law and the relief schemes of the government," he added.
"Shrikanth hailed from a family of poor background in Kanchinadka near Padubidri. He was the only breadwinner and pillar of the family. He had discontinued his education at the tender age of twelve due to the early demise of his father. He worked in some hotel in Bengaluru, to take care of his mother Appi and two ailing sisters. After the struggle of working in hotels in Bengaluru, he returned to his native place and started working as a construction worker on daily wages under contractor Keshava Sapaliga. Shrikanth also married Monica of Hejamady,” Shanbaug informed.
"On the fateful day of March 10, 2013, more than four and a half years ago, Shrikanth, who had gone to work at a construction project at Panjimar, near Shirva, did not return home. The roof of the building, being constructed under the supervision of Keshava Sapaliga, had collapsed and crushed Shrikanth to an untimely death. Though he was rushed immediately to the hospital, he did not survive," he added.
Continuing on the misery of Shrikanth's family Ravindranath said, "The illiterate family of Shrikanth approached a lawyer for possible help to obtain some financial relief. The concerned lawyer advised that since the death occurred when he was on duty, at the construction site, they may get compensation from the contractor and also the Karnataka Building and other Construction Workers' Welfare Board. He advised that an application for 'Ex gratia compensation' may be made by the family.
"On the basis of the said lawyer's advice, necessary application and documents were prepared and necessary signatures were appended on the same. The Lawyer also assured that he would assist the public prosecutor in a criminal case under section 304 of IPC. Over a period of time, the concerned lawyer washed off his hands by handing over the whole file and requested the family of Shrikanth to engage some other lawyer for the purpose,” he said.
"Fed up by the legal issues, the deprived family Appi (mother of deceased Shrikanth) approached human rights foundation Udupi through an association. Based on the case, an inquiry was made in the office of the labour officer Udupi, in August 2017. It was discovered later that there was no case pending against the said contractor and also no case had even been registered against him. In addition, the names of contractors Keshava Sapaliga and Henri D’Souza were not there in the list of registered construction contractors,” he added.
"Every possible effort shall be made by this foundation to get justice to the bereaved family and get a maximum compensation of Rs 50,000. I have received three more similar cases. There are many migrant workers working under unregistered contractors. If they meet with an accident while on duty, who is the responsible for their lives?" Shanbaug questioned.
"There is a provision made by the government, in which construction workers can register their name individually in Karnataka Building and other Construction Workers' Welfare Board (KBCWB) or in bulk. A contractor should register his workers' names in the KBCWB to get government benefits. Many people are not aware of this facility. It is a matter of great urgency to bring about public awareness of the possibilities of assistance to the hapless victims," Shanbaug urged through media.