Women seek Rs 10 lakh compensation each

: Two women, whose husbands died of asphyxiation reportedly while removing blocks in a septic tank of a private firm in Tuticorin, today sought compensation of Rs 10 lakh each, as per the orders of the Supreme Court.
The petitioners said that their husbands were working as scavengers with the Koramppallam panchayt for 10 years on a consolidated pay of Rs 1,300 a month.
They had to work to clean the septic tanks and sewers in the Panchayat and also in some private houses to earn enough money. They also used to remove night soil from open toilets.
On May 25 2011 the duo got a call from Britto Fish Exports to remove blocks in septic tanks. Though they refused to get into the tank without safety gear, they were forced to do so. Both fainted and were admitted to Tuticorin government hospital where they died without responding to treatment on May 31, 2011.

They submitted that the Supreme Court had directed identification of families of all persons who have died in sewerage work (manhole and septic tank since 1993,and award a compensation of Rs 10 lakh.
Though they had sent a representation to the officials, including the tuticorin Ccollector, there was no response. Hence the court should intervene and issue a direction, they said.