The Pourakarmikas on contract in Hubballi go on indefinite strike

Pourakarmikas on contract of Hubli started an indefinite strike pressing for confirmation of their employment. The protesters have stopped door to door garbage collection resulting in dumping of garbage on roads. Palike officials are contemplating alternate arrangement to clear garbage.

The Pourakarmikas on contract are staging a massive protest under the Dharwad District SC ST Pourakarmikas and Naukarara Sangha in front of the Hubli Mahanagara Palike office since Monday.

They are demanding fulfilling the assurance of confirming their employment made during the elections by the Congress government.  A similar decision was also taken during the previous Assembly sessions held in May. However, the process of confirming the appointments of these contract workers has not yet started. Thousands of contract workers are serving since ten years and yet their appointments are not confirmed.  Because of this they are not eligible for any benefits, they alleged.

The protesting Pourakarmikas have stopped the door-to-door collection of garbage. This has resulted in people throwing garbage on the road. Already the garbage pile is growing and if the strike is not curtailed soon, the City will look like a dump yard.

The indefinite strike has caused garbage pile in all the 48 wards, out of the total 67 wards, of which the contract Pourakarmikas are responsible for clearing garbage.  Door to door collection, street sweeping are their responsibility. The Palike officials are contemplating getting alternate help to clear the garbage on a tentative basis. A meeting was held on Monday by Mayor D K Chowhan, Commissioner Major Siddalinagaiah Hiremath and other officials of the Palike.