Nalini Ravichandran | ENS Chennai, MANUAL scavengers in Tamil Nadu continue to wait in vain for their rehabilitation package by TAHDCO (The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation). The rehab package is meant to help them quit their work and start their own business ventures. But 142 scavengers throughout the state have been made to wait. Samuel Velankanni, State Convener of SKA (Safai Karamchari Andolan) said that it was announced by TAHDCO that by Dec 10, 2008, all scavengers would be suitably rehabilitated, but not even a single person has benefited. According to a study by the SKA, manual scavengers in Nagapatinam (26), Theni (17), Theni (18), Pudukottai (43), Madurai(11), Thanjavur (4), Dindigul (16) and Karur(3) had to quit their work to be self-employed and start a business venture, but they are yet to receive financial aid by TAHDCO. They have no jobs, an SKA member from Pudukottai told Express. Then there are those scavengers in Madurai (6), Thiruvarur (5) and Dindigul (2) who are still toiling, since they are yet to be assured whether they will get the package if they quit their present occupation. A Renuga, SKA worker in Nagapatinam and Karur, says that the beneficiaries have been made to run from one corner to the other. She informs that both TAHDCO and the bank officials are throwing the ball in each other's court. Under the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers, they were to be rehabilitated by 2009. The scheme puts the average training cost as Rs 14,000 per beneficiary, which includes provision for training fee, kits and stipend to trainees. Company Secretary of TAHDCO, Harikrishnan Pillai said the subsidiary would be provided by THADCO and the loans have to be sanctioned by the banks. By March 31, the ongoing process should be completed, he said. The package ranges from Rs 25,000 to Rs 5 lakh depending on the individual requirement.