Here are 7 reasons why Pourakarmikas have all the right to stage protest

Recently, Pourakarmikas staged a two-day stir, and there was 2,500 tonnes of garbage collected in the Bengaluru city alone. Their stir makes people angry as cities smell bad and look bad too. People are scared of getting infected with diseases. But have you ever thought why are they on a protest? Here are the basic problems they face.

1)    Unfulfilled promises

Many promises have been made to the Pourakarmikas. Recently after two-day protest, Pourakarmikas have been assured of regularising their services. But this news can be believed only when it is implemented. If not, Pourakarmikas have all the rights to take to streets.

2)    Salary

After a major protest last year, they salaries were increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000. But they are yet to receive this money including the arrears. Moreover, the money is given to them through middlemen who take them on contract. Thus there is no guarantee that they get the money allotted to them. People can only see the heap of garbage when Pourakarmikas go on stir. But if this is the case, don’t they have a reason for staging the protest?

3)    Basic amenities

Pourakarmikas are seen sweeping the roads without covering their nose and mouth. It looks like everyone has taken the way they work for granted. Those collecting garbage do not have gloves nor boots which collecting the garbage. The basic tools are not provided to them despite the High Court’s direction.

4)    Safety tools

The people carrying glass pieces, syringes or any other dangerous items must be given proper covers. Many people have lost their eyes due to glass pieces and had a reaction due to the spilling of medicines etc. They should be given safety tools to cover their face, eyes too.

5)    Real ban on manual scavenging

Though manual scavenging has been banned on paper, people are still made to get into the drains and clean the dirt. Most of them get into the drain completely drunk; else it is not possible to bear the foul smell. Even there are seen working without any over, bare hands and even bare body. There is an immediate need for machinery to do this work and ban the manual scavenging with immediate effect.

Also Read: Manual scavenging is a disgrace but in not in CM's home district

6)    Working on odd hours

The issues of the death of pourakarmikas especially working inside the drain have come late night. The people are made to get into drains for various reasons without oxygen or any safety tools. Many have died of suffocation as there is no light and no oxygen reaching below 15 feet deep inside the drains or manholes.

Also Read: Bengaluru shame: Without safety tools, three die of suffocation inside manhole

7)    Medical facilities

Their salaries are not reaching them properly. They do not have any medical facilities, if they face a medical emergence during the duty, sometimes due to the duty. Those who have lost their eyes have also lost their jobs and had to pay for medical expenses themselves.

Also Read: 60 manual scavenger deaths: This is murder! Who is to blame?

• Pourakarmika protest
• reasons pourakarmikas protest
• manual scavenging
• Karnataka