Devadasi Rehabilitation System goes neglected

GULBARGA: The staff of Devadasi Rehabilitation Scheme, run by the Women Development Corporation works for the eradication of the Devadasi system and would provide rehabilitation all over the state but the plight of these ground level staff of the supreme cause is pitiful.According to sources, Devadasi Rehabilitation Scheme is under implementation in 14 districts.Most of the posts of project officers were vacant and the development officers of Women Development Corporation were given additional charge of project officers of Devadasi Rehabilitation Scheme.The sources said that project officers need to be post graduates and some of the project officers have an MSW degree. But these officers were appointed on contract and were getting Rs 10,000 and tour allowance of Rs 2,000.The plight of project implementation officers who were the real ground workers is bad and they were getting only Rs 6,000 per month plus tour allowance of Rs 1,000. The project implementation officers of Belgaum, Bijapur and Bagalkot  were working here since 16 years and of other districts were working since six years.The project officers on  the condition of anonymity expressed fear for their future. Though they have been serving since many years their services were not regularised. If our contract are not renewed, who would rehabilitate us, asks an implementation officer of Devadasi Rehabilitation Scheme.As per a survey conducted in 2007-08, 2,676 Devadasis were found in Davanagere, 917 in Chitradurga and 24 in Shimoga districts.(This is the concluding part of the series.)