'Enough is enough': Pourakarmikas demand abolition of contractual employment

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru:

After years of demand for regularisation of services, pay hike and permanent employment, pourakarmikas go on an indefinite strike from Friday across the state.

“We have been asking for the status of a permanent employee for years, but the government is not doing anything. Also, the designated salary is Rs 15, 000, but we only get Rs 13,000. If we take sick leave, they will cut our salary, and we are left with barely Rs 10,000,” said Nirmala, general secretary of BBMP Pourakarmika Sangha. She also claims that the protest will not end anytime soon if their demands are not met.

Although the Karnataka government had ordered regularisation of the services of the cleaning workers in 2017, as of now, only 10,755 of the total of 54,512 workers are permanent, while the others are forced to earn their livelihood without any social security or health benefits.

Most of these workers have to work without safety equipment. Maitreyi Krishnan, an activist and member of the BBMP Guttige Pourakarmika Sangha, said people who have worked for more than 30 years are being mistreated. “This is about basic fundamental rights. Permanent workers get paid around Rs 45,000 per month, and those who are not permanent employees barely make Rs 14,000. The main demand is that everyone involved in this work should be made permanent,” she said.

"BBMP has not provided safety gear for pourakarmikas under the Swachh Bharat mission, jeopardizing their health. They have no gloves, no masks, and sometimes no aprons, which hinders their work as they complain of dust and foul odour while working. It also leads to several health hazards.

Another pourakarmika, Mala, said they have to work in terrible conditions and pick up hazardous waste. Still, the BBMP has not provided them with safety gear. “I suffer from asthma; it is tough to work without any mask or safety equipment. I will not go to pick rubbish until they increase my salary and give me equipment," she added.

Other demands

Apart from a pay hike and a permanent job, the union also demands a retirement benefit of Rs 10 lakh and a pension of Rs 5,000 for the workers, as well as health care and employment for the dependants.

Other important demands include housing, free education for the worker's children, equal pay for equal work; and a better work environment for everyone.

What the BBMP has to say

The BBMP said garbage collection has not been affected even after the strike. The BBMP also claims that they have heard all the demands by the workers and are holding meetings to address them.

Harish Kumar, Special Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, BBMP, said, “The garbage collection remained undisturbed across Bengaluru. The Van drivers and cleaners are not supporting the strike. We have warned contractors strictly that if the garbage management is disturbed, they will be blacklisted from the new tenders.” He also informed that the BBMP will have a meeting with the chief minister soon to discuss the issue.