BENGALURU: It looks like the state government has ignored a committee it constituted for the prevention of crime and violence against children and women in the state.
According to the sources associated with the committee, the state government has not paid salaries and sitting fee to the members and staff working in the expert committee on prevention of crime and violence against children and women headed by Congress MLC V S Ugrappa for the last eight months.
The committee has 35 members and six staff members. But none of them, including Ugrappa have received salaries since January 2017. A source told Express, “We thought there was some technical issue, but now we have realized that it is not a technical issue and that it is just ignorance.”
The state government has given a cabinet rank for Ugrappa and also provided him a chamber in the Vidhana Soudha for work related to the committee. “It is not enough if they provide a chamber. The question is who will pay us? We are working here for free and it will not work out any more. Some of us have decided to quit,” a data entry operator working with the committee said.
‘Implement panel’s recommendations’
When contacted, Ugrappa refused to comment on this issue and said, “I prefer the government implements the recommendations in my reports which are pending with the Department of Women and Children Development.” There are at least two reports of the Committee that are pending with the government.
Women and Child Development Minister Umashree was unavailable for comment.