Two underpaid women demand full wages

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 16, 2012: Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag, president of the Human Rights Protection Foundation of Udupi, introduced to the press Elizabeth and Padma, who have been underpaid for several years.

Elizabeth, who worked in Government Teachers’ Training School in Balmatta, Mangalore, for 43 years, and Padma, who worked in Fisheries Junior College for 42 years, were both paid a monthly salary of only Rs. 15. The two women approached higher education authorities and requested them to pay their full wages with interest from the day they received their appointment order. However, the government officials have not responded so far.

 

Mr. Shanbhag said that the ladies are still working in the institutions, but are receiving no salary because they are being considered retired. The government has not made any fresh appointment either.

Citing the example of Akku and Leela, two other women who worked as scavengers in an educational institution for only Rs. 15 per month, he said that Akku and Leela had approached the then CM B. S. Yeddyurappa after winning their case in Supreme Court. The chief minister had told them that it is not possible to pay them, adding that, if the government paid them, it would have to pay the other workers too.

Mr. Shanbhag said that there are around 300 underpaid workers like Akku, Leela, Elizabeth, and Padma in Karnataka.