With ESMA, now, paurakarmikas and waste collectors cannot go on strike
- Garbage contractors are upset with the BBMP for making direct payment to the paurakarmikas
- On Saturday, they allegedly prevented the waste collectors from lifting garbage
- The government resorted to the ESMA, after the meeting with both the parties failed
FollowTo curb garbage collectors and garbage contractors of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) from striking, the State government has brought their services under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
The move has come after some of the garbage contractors allegedly prevented the paurakarmikas from lifting the garbage at various parts of the city on Saturday. The garbage contractors are reportedly miffed with the BBMP resorting to making direct payment to the paurakarmikas, directly, reports Kannada Prabha.
As the complaints of uncleared garbage poured in from various parts of the City on Saturday, Mayor, BBMP commissioner along with the joint commissioner held a meeting with paurakarmikas and the garbage contractors but in vain. The efforts of Ministers KJ George and Ramalinga Reddy to convince the contractors did not yield anything. With no hope, the ministers met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the airport and explained the situation. Siddaramaiah not wanting to take any chance, has asked the officials to implement the ESMA on them.
Since the Act prevents the paurakarmikas and garbage contractors from protesting, it would render the BBMP to keep the City clean. The action would be initiated against those who hamper the work. Be its garbage collection, segregation and distribution, all services come under the Act.
"We are not protesting to lift the garbage, but it is the contractors who are threatening us from clearing the garbage. They are even physically assaulting us," reports Kannada Prabha quoting Maitreyi Krishnan, member of the Paurakarmikas Association.
But the contractors' Association has refused these allegations. "For the past 30 years, we are helping the BBMP to keep the city clean. The government must understand our plight if they want to bring any change. No one is ready to understand us. Instead, the government wants to threaten us with the ESMA Act. We are not troubling the paurakarmikas and we don't intend to," reports Kannada Prabha quoting Balasubrhamanya, general secretary of Contractors Association.
