Kendrapara: They are hired to clean choked drains, sewage lines and garbage, but the Dalit sweepers of Chaunri Berhampur Sweeper Colony are facing plenty of problems in their homes due to space constraints.
It is unfortunate that though the Dalit Colony is located just at a stone’s throw from the Collector’s office and Kendrapara Municipality, the babus have always ignored their problems.
Sources said that when the Kendrapara Municipality was launched in 1869, eight sweepers were hired for cleaning garbage and drains. Later, the sweepers settled with their families near the Govari River, and named their colony as Chaunri Berhampur Sweeper Colony.
The number of families now staying in the colony is around 50. While 18 persons from the colony are working for Kendrapara Municipality, 36 persons, including women, have been engaged as DLR, while 32 are working in private firms.
Many youth from the colony have failed to get jobs and they are surviving by cleaning latrines, said Rajan Naik, a sweeper.
The municipality used to provide quarters to sweepers. But those have now turned into ramshackle houses. If anyone visits the sweeper colony they can see polythene sheet covered roofs as the government is not maintaining the quarters. The sweeper colony is an unhygienic place, said Amar Naik.
“All the houses are run down. During rains we face lots of problems. The quarters cannot accommodate more than three persons, but 8 to 10 people are staying in many houses,” he added.
“During the day we manage cooking, eating etc. At night the men generally go to the street or to the front side of Bhaskar Talkies to take rest. During rainy days life in the sweeper colony is difficult. Most families have to spend sleepless nights due to space constraints,” said Tikina Naik, a sweeper of Chaunri Berhampur Sweeper Colony.
Due to unhygienic conditions, illiteracy and ignorance many people have died prematurely in the sweeper colony. Drinking water is a major problem in the colony and many families do not have latrines, said Bipin Naik, 53.
Papu Naik, a youth, said they do not have title deeds and hence have failed to avail several government benefits. Due to this, residents of the colony have failed to enrol themselves in housing schemes, get income and caste certificates. Their wards do not get benefits meant for Dalit students. Many people have failed to get NFSA ration cards and old age pensions, Papu added.
Students face problems in their houses due to space constraints, as families generally congregate to watch TV and gossip, said Hemalata Naik and Manashi Naik, who are students of Kendrapara Autonomous College.
“It is unfortunate that nobody has helped us to solve our problems. We have approached the Collector, Kendrapara Municipality, the MLA, ministers and the local MP in vain,” said Noka Naik, 65, of the colony.
Apart from this, the colony residents are considered untouchables by many. Due to this they have constructed a Mangala temple in their colony, a resident said.
The Executive Officer of Kendrapara Municipality, Debabrata Bal, said that the houses would be taken up for repair and to enrol the residents in housing schemes after rains stops.
The municipality has provided toilets and a community centre for the Sweeper Colony, he said.
PNN