Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge during the distribution of appointment letters to pourakarmikas in Bengaluru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

Close on the heels of regularising the services of 12,692 pourakarmikas in Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday promised to regularise the services of nearly 9,000 other workers engaged in cleanliness work including drivers, assistants and waste operators in the coming days.

Addressing a programme organised in Bengaluru to distribute appointment/confirmation orders to pourakarmikas and also celebrate Pourakarmikas’ Day, the Chief Minister declared that the government was committed to regularising the services of co-workers in cleaning works on the lines of pourakarmikas.

While the services of only sweepers have been regularised, there has been a consistent demand to bring waste collectors also out of the clutches of the contractors and regularise their services.

From the previous tenure

Mr. Siddaramaiah recalled that he had begun working towards the welfare of pourakarmikas in his first stint as Chief Minister between 2013 and 2018. “Then the pourakarmikas were being cheated by the contractors who engaged their services by not giving them justifiable salaries. Hence, I introduced a direct bank transfer system under which the pourakarmikas would get ₹17,000 a month in accordance with the Minimum Wages Act as against the earlier ₹7,000,” he said.

He said that as per the election promise ahead of the 2023 polls, their services are now being regularised. “This will bring about a positive change in your lives as you would get ₹39,000 a month,” the Chief Minister told the pourakarmikas.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who is also in-charge of Bengaluru city, said the government considers pourakarmikas as ambassadors of cleanliness. “Your contribution is significant in making this city get global recognition,” he remarked.

IPD Salappa panel

Mr. Shivakumar said the government was considering implementing the various recommendations of the IPD Salappa Committee for the welfare of pourakarmikas in a phased manner. The implementation of the recommendations is expected to cost ₹600 crore, he noted.

Participating in the event, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge batted for the regularisation of pourakarmikas across Karnataka. “Now that the Congress government has regularised the service of 12,692 pourakarmikas here, I hope it is extended to their counterparts working in various local government bodies as well,” he said.