The absence of underground drainage facility and garbage piled up in 23 colonies, including 12 pourakarmikas’ quarters situated in different parts of Mysore city figured at a special meeting of City Corporation officials, pourakarmika contractors and leaders held here on Monday.
Perturbed by the allegations of pourakarmika leaders, M. Shivanna, Chairman of the National Safai Karamchari Commission, sought to know why basic amenities had not been provided to pourakarmika colonies.
A few officials said many pourakarmikas refused to work in their own areas.He also Mr. Shivanna directed officials to close “open drainages” in the colonies and construct underground drainages. Another leader pointed out that pourakarmikas were not promoted even once, though they had put in more than 30 to 35 years of service. He said that even Group D workers in different departments got promotions after putting in a certain number of years of service. He urged Mr. Shivanna to impress upon the government to introduce promotions to pourakarmikas. Mr. Shivanna promised to take up the issue at a higher level. Mr. Shivanna asked the Commissioner to identify places to construct a ‘dress room’ for pourakarmikas in all wards so that they would change their clothes before and after the work.
He noted that as per official figures, there were over 805 persons involved in man-hole scavenging in the State, out of which 350 were in Bangalore. However, he stated that he had reports that more than 8,000 persons were involved in man-hole scavenging.
Mr. Shivanna asked the officials to appoint more pourakarmikas and buy more trucks and other machinery to collect and dispose garbage. Despite repeated directions from the High Court, the Bangalore City Corporation could not clear the garbage in Bangalore and such a situation should not happen to Mysore, he said.
