After years of their relentless demand for regularised and permanent employment being unmet, safai karamcharis and pourakarmikas have announced a State-wide indefinite strike from July 1. Although Karnataka government had ordered for regularisation of services of the cleaning workers during 2017-18, as of today, only 10,755 of the total 54,512 workers are permanent, while the others are forced to earn their livelihood without any social security or health benefits.
On Friday, all pourakarmikas, underground drainage workers, cleaners, loaders and drivers will strike work and hold an indefinite demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioners’ offices in all districts. In Bengaluru, the workers will gather at Freedom Park and will stage a protest until their demands for immediate permanency are met.
After a long struggle and several strikes, in March 2017, the State Cabinet, during the tenure of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, removed the contract system for pourakarmikas and brought them under the direct payment system. However, the Special Recruitment Rules for Pourakarmikas - 2017 was brought in, in which they categorised only those who sweep the streets as pourakarmikas. Other workers, involved in cleaning drains, garbage collectors, truck drivers, loaders and helpers who worked on the vehicles for Solid Waste Management remained under contract.
