Wielding brooms, pourakarmikas gathered at the Freedom Park here on Thursday demanding the abolition of contract system and threatening to strike work from June 12 if their demands are not met.
Narayan, State president, Karnataka Rajya Nagarapaalike, Nagarasabhe, Purasabhegala Pourakarmikara Mahasangha, under whose banner the pourakarmikas protested, said that the government would be given a fortnight to the abolish contract system and consider the pourakarmikaras as permanent employees.
“There are around 40,000 pourakarmikas in the State, and at least half of them are on contract. We do not have social and economic security. If the government does not fulfil our demands, we will go on an indefinite strike across the State from June 12,” he added.
Many pourakarmikas on contract said they were subjected to harassment and were rarely paid their full salaries.
“We , are supposed to get ₹17,400 per month, including PF and ESI benefits, but we only get ₹6,000 per month,” said a pourakarmika from Byatarayanapura ward.
Another said that they were not given basic safety gear, equipment and even uniforms.
Much to the disappointment of the protesters, who were expecting Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George to assure them of abolishing the contract system, the Minister instead suggested the establishment of a ‘cooperative society’ sort of a set up.
However, the pourakarmikas termed this another form of a contract set-up and stuck to their demand for direct payment from the government.
Mr. George also told them that the government is planning to introduce bio-metric system for attendance.
“As soon as we announced salary hike and other benefits for pourakarmikas, fake pourakarmikas have emerged. Bio-metric system will be introduced to solve this problem,” he said.
Mayor G.Padmavathi, who also spoke to the protesters, said the government had already introduced beneficial schemes for pourakarmikas, such as salary hike and mid-day meal. “We will solve this problem too as soon as possible,” she said.
