Two-day Pourakarmika strike leaves City with 2500 tonne garbage!
- Heap of 2,500 tonne garbage is being dragged on the roads by stray dogs and cattle
- Confirming the employment of contract workers will incur a cost of Rs 750 crores to State exchequer.
- Several schemes are assured by Minister including employment to family member of those died in manhole
- Former president of Federation of BBMP Pourakarmikas Sanghas alleged that Sanghas do not approve the strike
FollowTwo days of strike by pourakarmikas is all that takes to convert the City into a garbage dump of 2500 tonne. Add to that stray dogs and cattle dragging garbage on the streets and the stink mixing with the pollution to reduce the Silicon City to unbearable hell.
Central areas of Bengaluru like K R Market, J C Road, Gandhi Bazar, Avenue Road, BVK Iyengar Road, the narrow congested by-lanes of Chickpet, Hanumanthanagar, Basavanagudi, Mahadevapura were all overflowing with mounted garbage, following the strike by contract pourakarmikas. Added to that was the Bandh on Monday, due to which even in those areas where permanent employees are in charge of clearing the garbage were left untouched.
An assurance by the Urban Development Minister K J George resulted in the striking workers calling a halt to the protest and reporting to duty on Wednesday. A meeting has been scheduled on June 19 with the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to discuss the various demands of the Contract pourakarmikas. If relief is not guaranteed at the meeting, the strike will continue cautioned Narayana, former president of Municipal and Corporation Contract Pourakarmikas Association.
However, there is a difference of opinion among the factions of the Workers Union of the Palike. The Federation of BBMP Pourakarmikas Sanghas has alleged that Narayana, the former president of State Safai Karmachari Ayoga, is misleading the workers to strike against the government, just when talks are being held with the government to regularise the employment of contract workers.
Speaking to newspersons, the General Secretary of the Federation Ashok Salappa said, the Congress Party had clearly stated in its election manifesto of 2013 that the contract pourakarmikas would be confirmed in a phased manner. Accordingly the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has held several rounds of talks and obtained the Cabinet approval. An order to this effect is expected to be issued shortly. Hence a strike at this point is not called for, he said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Urban Development, K J George said a meeting will be held on June 19 with the pourakarmikas and a decision would be taken.
Answering a query by Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar at the Assembly Session, he said, the first round of meeting is already held with the pourakarmika leaders by Municipal Administration Minister Eshwar Khandre, Urban Development Minister Roshan Beig and himself.
The issue has to resolved taking into consideration several aspects like cancelling all Acts related to the Contract and others. Jagadish Shettar quipped that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah keeps saying “the government that functions as it promised” but in the case of pourakarmikas it has not kept its promise of confirming their services by March.
The confirmation of employment of the contract pourakarmikas will cost the State exchequer an additional Rs 750 crore, plus the Provident Fund, ESI and other facilities. Also rules have to be modified. A decision has to be taken with regard to the fixing of service period of the contract worker eligible for confirmation. Only after considering all such aspects can a decision be taken, the Minister said.
However, the Minister also assured that salaries to pourakarmikas will be paid directly into their bank account through RTGS, 10,000 contract workers will be confirmed, government employment will be provided to the kin of the workers who died in manhole, on compassionate grounds, Pourakarmikas will be covered under Arogya Sanjeevani insurance with a subsidy of Rs100 crore given by the government and a free housing complex.
