INDIA: Two more sanitation workers die cleaning sewer

ISSUES: Right to food; inhuman and degrading treatment; hunger, starvation, corruption; impunity; rule of law, Right to life and livelihood; right to rehabilitation and compensation

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learnt about the death of two sanitation workers in Hyderabad. They have died while cleaning a gutter, a practice outlawed by the Supreme Court of India. These deaths follow others one sanitation worker in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and three in Gujarat that have taken place in the wake of the historic 29th March Supreme Court verdict criminalizing the practice of manual cleaning of human excreta.

CASE NARRATIVE:

The AHRC has learnt about the death of two sanitation workers, Mr. Beemulu, 23 years, and Mr. Narayana, 53 years. They died inside a drain in Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad, this Saturday. Mr. Beemulu was trapped first. When Mr. Narayana entered the drain to help him and got trapped too. Media reports state that the workers were cleaning an 18-foot deep drain; they were trapped inside and suffocated to death due to the lack of oxygen. The owners of Imperial Residency apartments employed the two men to cleaning their sewer; one of the sewage lines had overflowed due to a blocked manhole. Media reports also note that the residents were compelled to employ private manual scavengers. Repeated complaints to the municipal authorities regarding the sewage problem remained unanswered.

The deaths occurred despite the practice of manual cleaning of human excreta, in any form and in any place, having been outlawed both by the Indian parliament and the Supreme Court of India. On 27 March 2014, the Supreme Court has imposed a categorical ban on anyone entering, or being forced to enter, manholes, unless there is an emergency. The Court clarified that even in a case of emergency, entering a drain or manhole can only be permitted with the written approval of a Chief Executive Officer and with all protective gears in place.

The Court ordered all state governments to strictly enforce the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, and to take immediate measures to eradicate manual scavenging. The verdict has also put command responsibility on the Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent post) of the locality and instituted a compensation of Rupees 10 lakhs in the case of death due to such a practice.

The death of Mr. Beemulu and Mr. Narayanan, however, exposes the criminal disdain authorities have even for the orders of the higher judiciary. Forget about being permitted or not in writing by the chief executive officer, the deceased sanitation workers were not even employed by municipal authorities and were working for private citizens. Unfortunately, this situation is not peculiar to Hyderabad or the state of Andhra Pradesh; such deaths keep occurring across the country. Though data on such deaths is hard to come by, both because of such private employment and authorities quest to hush up the matter, a conservative estimate by dalit rights activist S. Anand puts the toll at 22,237 deaths a year across India, with around 700 deaths occurring inside manholes.

These deaths have followed the deaths of a manual scavenger, Mr. Pavan, in Varanasi and three others in Gujarat; all of them have taken place after the Supreme Court verdict. In case of the death of Mr. Pavan, the authorities even feigned ignorance about who employed the man to do the job. The AHRC condemns the continuation of such deaths and holds the authorities responsible. The AHRC demands compensation for the families of the deceased workers and also the prosecution of the Chief Executive Officers administering areas where the deaths occurred.

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INDIA: Two more sanitation workers die cleaning sewer

Lenoir City, TN (PRWEB) June 05, 2014

Window Genie announces the grand opening of its newest location in SW Knoxville on Monday, June 9th. Debbie Lunsford is the owner/operator. Window Genie is a nationally ranked home service franchise that specializes in window cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing, gutter cleaning and more. Window Genie of SW Knoxville will service Lenoir City, Loudon, Louisville, Karns, Concord, Farragut and surrounding communities.

Before joining the Window Genie team, Debbie Lunsford spent 14 years as an investigator, doing background checks for federal security clearances. This past year as work slowed down, Lunsford was among many that were laid off. I typically take things pretty well and was able to see the positive in this situation, Lunsford said. I believe everything happens for a reason and I simply looked at it as an opportunity to pursue my next venture. I had always thought Id be a business owner one day, but for many years I had a job with great benefits that I enjoyed very much. This past January, when I was laid off, I decided to seriously look into business ownership.

Lunsford was a frequent listener of a Chattanooga radio program, Lets Talk Money. Franchise coach with The Entrepreneurs Source, Bruce Krebs, was a frequent guest on the show. Lunsford said, I enjoyed what he had to say and when I was laid off, I felt it was time to reach out and see if he could help steer me in the right direction. I didnt know what to expect but through conversations where we analyzed my goals, interests, strengths and weaknesses, Bruce presented six franchises he felt I could excel with and enjoy. After researching each opportunity, Lunsford was able to narrow her choices down to two franchises, Window Genie and one other.

On making her decision, Lunsford said, Talking to existing Window Genie franchise owners really helped me make my decision. I spoke to some whove been in business over 10 years, some who just bought a business last year. Every conversation left me feeling re-assured that I was headed in the right direction; every franchisee was incredibly honest about their experience and were ultimately happy running the business because they felt that no matter what issues theyve run into along the way, the corporate support staff was always there to guide and coach them back on track. I am realistic and know that opening a business is not going to be easy or smooth sailing, but Im up for the challenge and trust the support and training Ive received and will continue to receive along the way.

Lunsford officially opens for business on Monday, June 9th and will service the surrounding SW Knoxville communities of Lenoir City, Loudon, Lousiville, Karns, Concord, Farragut and more. To learn more about Window Genie of SW Knoxville or for a free estimate, call Debbie Lunsford at (865) 309-9439 or email her at dlunsford(at)windowgenie(dot)com.

About Window Genie: Window Genie is a nationally ranked home service franchise specializing in window cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing, gutter cleaning and more. Window Genie was started as a small local window cleaning company in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1994. Since then it has grown to over 165 markets nationwide. Franchise opportunities available, visit windowgeniefranchise.com to learn more.

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Window Genie Announces Grand Opening in SW Knoxville on June 9th

How to Clean Your Gutters the Right Way

Leaf Guard, 1239 Aerowood Drive, Mississauga, ON 905-206-9916

If you are a homeowner, we are willing to bet that somewhere on your house there is an eavestrough. An eavestrough that always seems to need cleaning, even though it feels like you just cleaned it!

Gutter Depot is here to assure you, although eavestrough maintenance seems like another tireless chore, it is absolutely vital to the wellbeing of your home!

An eavestrough will collect the rainwater pouring down your roof and redirect it away from your home. However, standard eavestroughs also collect leaves, small branches and other dirt, causing them to block during rainstorms. If the eavestrough remains clogged, water damage can take place through leaks in the roof and flooding through the walls and foundation. It can even split the pipes!

To keep up with your eavestrough maintenance, we recommend a scheduled cleaning 2-3 times a year, preferably mid-Spring (May-June) and mid-Fall (October-November). Consider waiting until most of the leaves have fallen, but dont wait too long or you might get caught with an early snowfall!

If you are thinking of cleaning out your gutters, remember this important rule: ladder safety! When cleaning gutters it is a good idea to attach either a bucket to your ladder or a trash bag to collect the leaves and other debris from the gutters. Be prepared, cleaning out gutters can be a very messy job!

This is why Gutter Depot recommends LeafGuards patented system. It allows rain to travel down and around its rounded hood and into the eavestrough, while keeping leaves and dirt out! LeafGuards patented system specializes in delivering a hassle and repair free peace of mind investment all with a no-clog guarantee for as long as you own the house.

Gutter Depots LeafGuard Eavestroughs are the most effective eavestrough solution for your home. They are custom fit, resilient, and are available in a wide range of colours.

To learn more about how Gutter Depot can assist with your eavestrough needs, call us toll free at 1 (888) 909-1665 or visit our website. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

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How to Clean Your Gutters the Right Way

Burlington Post

Clean windows are something that most of us take for granted until we realize just how dirty theyve become.

Having clean windows makes a lot of difference to the atmosphere of any place, be it your home or office. If the windows in your home have accumulated dirt and dust overtime, they are sure to negatively affect the colour, feel and even mood of your home. Similarly, place yourself in an office, dirty windows are an eyesore that can obscure the beauty of any business and give customers the wrong impression and remember you only get one chance to make a good one!

If youve been wishing for a professional window cleaning company that has the experience, professionalism and talent youre home or business needs lookno further then Star Bright Professional Window Cleaners.

From the seasonal care of residential home owners, to the weekly demands of a business, or even a onetime clean-up after a construction project, Star Bright Professional Window Cleaners has been serving the many needs of the Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, and surrounding area for over 14 years.Whether at work or at home, you can rest assured that your windows will be cleaned by a licensed, insured and bonded professional window cleaning company.

In addition to their residential and commercial window cleaning services, the respectable, uniformed staff at Star Bring also provides customers with professional power washing, screens and sills cleaning, gutter cleaning, canopy and sign cleaning and so much more. Take a peek at their online gallery to see some of the great work theyve done and will be happy to do for you!

At Star Bright Professional Window Cleaners their professionals are happy to visit any job site to provide an accurate, free estimate, so there are never any surprises.

Contact Star Bright today to make your appointment. Hamilton - 905 547 3084, Oakville - 905 842 3084, Burlington - 905 335 2555 or via email at info@starbrightwindowcleaners.com.

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Star Bright Professional Window Cleaners

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RENO, Nev. - The City of Reno and Sierra Nevada Community Aquatics encourage citizens to volunteer for this years Adopt-A-Pool event on Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Idlewild Pool in Reno.

Volunteers will assist in the seasonal preparation of Idlewild Pool and the surrounding area by clean-up efforts such as weed removal, sweeping, washing windows, cleaning out gutter drains, painting and more.

Last year, we had a record number of more than 130 volunteers who put in approximately 350 hours of volunteer work, and we hope to see even more people this year, said Andy Bass, Recreation Manager for the City of Renos Parks, Recreation and Community Services department. This annual event continues to grow and bring aquatics groups together to demonstrate a willingness to help ensure the citizens of Reno have public pools to use.

If available, volunteers should bring their own rakes, brooms and gardening equipment for planting. They should also wear covered shoes that can get wet and clothes appropriate for painting in.

For more information about Adopt-A-Pool, visit sncaquatics.org or call 834-7766. The planned opening date for Idlewild Pool, located at Idlewild Park, is June 6.

Excerpt from:
Volunteers Needed for Adopt-A-Pool Event at Idlewild Pool

The Hooper North bridge opened on Friday, and the Dodge County Highway Department is now turning its attention to the Cloverly Road project.

Work to replace a 1954 trestle bridge that formerly spanned the Elkhorn River on County Road 19 half a mile north of Hooper began in 2013, and then stopped during the winter weather months, when the new bridge was opened to winter traffic.

The bridge closed again on March 24 to complete final details of the project before reopening last week.

A.M. Cohron and Son Inc. of Atlantic, Iowa, was the general contractor for the $1.581 million federal aid project. The county and the state were each responsible for 10 percent of the costs. M.E. Collins Contracting Co. Inc. of Wahoo was the concrete contractor.

The route is a major thoroughfare for agricultural traffic in the Hooper area, including Hoegemeyer Hybrids, but the 1954 trestle bridge had reached the end of its life expectancy, and weight limits were placed on it before it was removed to make room for the new bridge.

Highway Superintendent Alan Doll told county supervisors on Wednesday that he is beginning the process of notifying businesses along Cloverly Road, where an asphalt resurfacing project is expected to begin on June 9.

Dodge County in January awarded a $362,000 contract to Pavers Inc. of Waverly to resurface Cloverly from U.S. Highway 77 east to Platte Avenue, and then about one block north on Platte.

The project, intended to alleviate rutting, will mill the road surface and overlay new asphalt. County crews will then raise the shoulders to match the new road elevation.

The project includes several hundred feet of guardrail replacement, and curb and gutter work at the intersections.

Well probably be doing some minor work at first, some curbs and patching and stuff like that, and then theyll start milling the old asphalt down and hauling that away, and then coming in and overlaying the six-inch asphalt. Once thats completed, theyll do the shoulder work and guardrail, Doll said.

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Hooper bridge opens, Cloverly road project is next

Gutter Cleaning Inspection Cam
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Rain gutter cleaning

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Pressure Washing Cleaning Driveway Cleaning Ilkley Yorkshire
AB Jetting Pressure Washing Cleaning Services / Professional External Cleaning Sealing. Driveway and Patio Cleaning Services for Bradford, Halifax, Bingley, Keighley, Haworth, Oakworth....

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Pressure Washing Cleaning Driveway Cleaning Ilkley Yorkshire - Video