The stink of garbage in the city and other places might become unbearable from Thursday as the pourakarmikas (PK) have decided to go on indefinite strike until their demands are met. They are also demanding increased salary and regularization of their services, according to the pourakarmikas’ association president Narayan.
However, Bengaluru may only be partially affected as not all the civic workers working in BBMP are supporting the dharna. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday Mr Narayan said the civic workers from urban local bodies, town and city municipalities across the state are staging dharna at Freedom Park demanding minimum wages. Each civic worker should be given a salary of Rs 6,600 per month. Local bodies across the state and the State government have flouted the labour department’s December 2010 order directing the government to give a salary of Rs 6,600 per month, he added.
The State government, has been generous in releasing money to various maths, has not shown mercy on the civic workers who strive to keep the city clean. The civic workers should be given salary through cheques, he demanded. If any civic worker dies while on duty, his/her family must get a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and two family members must get jobs. They should be given benefits like PF and ESI and daily-wagers must be regularized, he added.
Following a high court order, the State government has planned to recruit 4,000 civic workers. Those working for the last 15 years must be considered for regularization, Mr Narayan said. He however said that not all civic workers are taking part in the dharna and hence garbage clearance in the city will not be affected. The Chief Minister has convened a meeting and has promised to fulfill the demands. But the association from Mysore is staging dharna, he clarified.