Pourakarmikas warn of protest if demands not met in 10 days

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The BBMP has been contracting essential services like handling solid waste management of the city. Dr Babu, president of Bengaluru City Corporation Workers Federation said that BBMP depends on contractors for vehicles and also to pay the workers’ salaries.

“They pay around 9,000 only. We are asking for direct payment. Bengaluru alone has around 5,000 workers engaged as drivers, loaders etc whose work is not regularized. We aren’t asking for regularisation of their services but just for a direct payment system how can they withhold rightful salaries from those who are already living in poverty?”

Additionally, there has been no increase in the number of permanent posts in the City Corporation according to the area and population. BBMP Pourakarmikas’ Trade Union Joint Action Committee has sent a memorandum to BBMP Commissioner Girinath citing its demands. Dr Babu said, “We have sent a memorandum to the BBMP commissioner and we will wait for 10 days. If there is no response, we will stop everything in Bengaluru,'' he added.