Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner (DC) G. Lakshmikanth Reddy has said that Pourakarmikas must first submit their applications for housing to their respective Local Bodies before applying under Government Housing Schemes.

He was speaking after presiding over the District-level Awareness Committee meeting on the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, held at the Social Welfare Department office in Babu Jagjivan Ram Bhavan on Thursday.

Emphasising strict compliance, the Deputy Commissioner instructed officials to ensure that ESI and PF contributions are credited to the respective accounts of outsourced Pourakarmikas every month after their salaries are paid.

He informed that plans have been drawn up to construct 20 houses in Mysuru city limits and 1,016 houses in rural areas across the district for Pourakarmikas.

Reviewing the progress of Housing Schemes for Pourakarmikas in various taluks, Reddy directed officials to obtain the required documents from banks to help beneficiaries secure loans under different Government programmes.

Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO S. Ukesh Kumar said that outsourced contract workers must be paid at least the minimum wage prescribed by the Government.

MCC Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif, Social Welfare Department Joint Director B. Rangegowda, ZP Deputy Secretary Savitha and Committee Members D.R. Raju, Nanjappa, Manjunath, Vasanthakumari, Deepa, Cheluvaraju and others were present.