Pourakarmikas continue stir, despite CM assurance

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Despite the Chief Minister’s assurance regarding the regularisation of work, the Pourakarmikas continued their indefinite strike for the second day on Saturday. The Pourakarmikas say that they will continue their protest until the promises made by the CM are given in writing.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai approved the regularisation of Pourakarmikas, who were directly recruited but not regularised by BBMP and other urban local bodies across Karnataka. He said a special committee would be formed to check the regularisation process, and it will also include representatives from Pourkarmika Sangha.

However, the Pourakarmikas are sceptical about the government’s assurance. “We will not stop protesting. The government made many promises in the past, but they never fulfilled them. This time we won’t stop protest till we see the evidence,” said Nirmala, general secretary of BBMP Pourakarmika Sangha.

As per the data provided by the government, there are 54,000 pourakarmikas in urban local bodies across the state, out of which only 17,000 have been regularised as government employees, while 26,349 pourakarmikas have been directly recruited, but not made permanent from the government’s side. About 16,000 of these direct recruits are working in Bengaluru.

The pourakarmika representatives had a meeting with Bommai to discuss their demands and concerns. After the meeting, the CMO informed that approval has been given to regularise direct recruits and that a committee involving representatives of the law department, pourakarmikas and senior government officials will be set up to oversee it.

Bommai has also promised that pourakarmikas will receive the same maternal benefits as state government employees.