Pourakarmikas have threatened to strike work across the State indefinitely from July 1 in protest against the State Government’s failure to regularise the services of an estimated 40,000 temporary pourakarmikas in the State.
Narayan, president of Federation of Pourakarmika Associations of Karnataka, who held a meeting with heads of pourakarmika unions of Mysuru, Mandya, Kodagu and Chamarajanagar in Mysuru on Monday, said the temporary pourakarmikas, including the sweepers, underground drainage workers and drivers of garbage vehicles, were paid a measly salary of around ₹14,000 per month.
“The wage, though paid directly to the pourakarmikas by the government through the respective local bodies, was not anywhere near meeting the basic needs of the pourakarmikas’ families including their food, children’s education, etc. Besides, they are not even entitled to any social security benefits or holidays. Our one-point agenda is the regularisation of the services of these pourakarmikas,” he said.
