“My brother asked me for Rs. 50 to have lunch this morning, but I had no money,” said an inconsolable Anjanamma, who is the sister of 34-year-old Murthy who died while cleaning a soak pit on Saturday.
In a shocking incident, he and 40-year-old Chikkanna — both Dalits — died due to asphyxiation while they were cleaning a 15-feet-deep soak pit at Saraswathipuram in Tumakuru city on Saturday. Municipal contractor Kempanarasaiah had come to Kuripalya to call Murthy to clean the pit around noon in his own house.
Anjanamma and Murthy had quit their jobs as pourakarmikas because they were not being paid regularly. However, their life had improved little as work was hard to come by as daily wagers.
She said Murthy was unable to meet the day-to-day expenses and his wife, also called Anjanamma, was working as a domestic help, taking her three-year-old baby with her. Murthy has left behind four children, all aged below eight. He was working as a labourer and used to earn around Rs. 500 to Rs. 600 a month.
Chikkanna is survived by a five-year-old daughter. Hisdaughter is being looked after by his sister as his wife died a few years ago.
Members of Dalit organisations, pourakarmikas’ organisations and CITU staged demonstrations outside the house where the two died.
President of the Tumakuru Zilla Pourakarmikara Sangha Syed Mujeeb demanded government job to one family member of each of the two victims.
The house owner is absconding, Tilak Park police, who have registered a case, said. The district administration announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each for the two families.
