A week after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) decided to release salaries for pourakarmikas and the council unanimously decided not to let go of any worker, arbitrariness continues to reign.
Several pourakarmikas have alleged that they are not being allowed to work by their immediate supervisors. Not only are officials allegedly denying them use of the biometric system to mark their attendance, they are also indiscriminately being asked to go home saying they do not have a job any more.
One worker from Mahadevpura said, “I have been working for the past one year. All of a sudden, I am being told that the Mayor’s permission is needed to let me continue. I was also told that I won’t be paid wages for June. In my immediate circle, about 40 pourakarmikas are being harassed this way.”
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All the pourakarmikas who spoke to
A pourakarmika added, “When we ask what the problem is, supervisors are unwilling to explain. They ask us to go meet the Mayor if we want to continue working,” he said.
Workers added that even though their salaries had been released by the Palike, not everyone had received the money.
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Mythri K. from Guthige Pourakarmikara Sangha said this has been a persistent problem. “Despite the council resolution last week, workers are being stopped from using the biometric attendance system in several places. Moreover, the Mayor had personally informed the Palike officials concerned about the resolution. This behaviour is very unfortunate. Supervisors are putting the lives of pourakarmikas at risk.”
The Palike follows a ratio of one pourakarmika for 700 people. However, there are an estimated 3,500 workers in excess to this ratio. After opposition leaders in the council criticised this practice and called the ratio unscientific, on July 12, councillors unanimously decided not to fire any pourakarmika and pay their pending salaries.
Mayor interacts with workers, officials
On Tuesday, Mayor Sampath Raj visited Yelahanka, Dasarahalli and Byatarayanapura zones to interact with workers and officials. “Some pourakarmikas did not have bank accounts. We made them open accounts. In some cases, salaries were not credited. We ensured that all their salaries have been paid,” he said.
In response to allegations by pourakarmikas of not receiving the money, he said, “I have been meeting officials at the zonal level every day. We will seek a letter from officials in every ward to ensure that salaries are being credited to the workers. I am personally approaching pourakarmikas and talking to them to find out their problems,” he said.