Civic workers take out 'broom' rally for regular jobs, better pay

 Hundreds of pourakarmikas (municipal workers) took out a ‘broom’ protest rally in the city on Thursday, demanding the regularisation of their jobs and payment of revised salaries as ordered by the state government.

Led by Narayan, former chairman, Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission, pourakarmikas took out the rally, wielding brooms and banners, and raised slogans against the “injustice” meted out to them. They warned of an indefinite strike if their demands are not fulfilled in a fortnight.

Speaking to journalists, Narayan said around 44,000 pourakarmikas were working on contract in Karnataka, including more than 24,000 in Bengaluru alone, and demanded that municipal bodies
regularise their jobs.

 “Municipal corporations are exploiting pourakarmikas on contract. The fruits of Independence have not reached these pourakarmikas even after 70 years, which is a matter of shame for all of us,” Narayan said.
Narayan said the government had made several announcements that pourakarmikas would be regularised but municipal corporations were defying it. He said the civic agencies were not paying pourakarmikas Rs 18,000 a month either despite a government order.

Following the rally, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George promised to call a meeting of the contractors and ensure that pourakarmikas were paid the revised salaries.