Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 1: In a major labour welfare initiative, the Karnataka government on Thursday handed over permanent appointment letters to 12,600 pourakarmikas (civic workers) working under the BBMP limits, fulfilling a long-pending demand. The event was organised by the BBMP at Palace Grounds to mark Pourakarmika Day, and was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Speaking at the ceremony, CM Siddaramaiah recalled, “When I was in the Opposition, pourakarmikas were protesting to demand permanent jobs. I had visited their protest site and assured them that if the then BJP government failed to act, we would ensure their regularisation after coming to power. Today, we have honoured that promise.”
He added that there are 38,000 pourakarmikas across the state, and the government will regularise their services in a phased manner. However, drivers, helpers, and operators involved in sanitation work under BBMP have not been included in the current regularisation due to technical reasons. “We will resolve these issues and ensure that all are brought under the regularisation ambit,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to the welfare of marginalised communities, Siddaramaiah said, “Previously, pourakarmikas earned a monthly wage of Rs 7,000, paid through contractors, which led to numerous issues. In our earlier term, we increased their salary to Rs 18,000 and ensured direct payments to workers. Now, by making 12,600 of them permanent, we have taken one more step forward.”
He declared that the dignity and recognition accorded to a BBMP Commissioner must also be extended to pourakarmikas. “They, too, deserve to live a dignified life. Going forward, all regularised pourakarmikas will receive a monthly salary of Rs 39,000,” he announced.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the state government to regularise all pourakarmikas working in municipal corporations, town municipalities, and town panchayats across Karnataka. “I request the government to extend this regularisation effort statewide,” he said.
Deputy CM D K Shivakumar stated, “This regularisation was part of our manifesto. By fulfilling it, we’ve stood by our word. Some pourakarmikas have been left out due to procedural gaps, but we are setting up special units at municipal offices to verify documents and correct deficiencies to bring them under the scheme.”
Kharge accuses Modi govt of undermining workers’ rights
Kharge also used the occasion to launch a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led central government, alleging that it is weakening labour rights to benefit corporate allies. “The Modi government is replacing labour-friendly laws with ones that favour corporates. It has repealed 44 labour laws enacted by previous governments and introduced only 4 new ones,” he said.
He recalled that under British rule, Indian workers had to work 12 hours a day, compared to 8 hours for British workers. “Dr B R Ambedkar had repeatedly opposed this discrimination before the Viceroy’s committee in the 1930s. His efforts ensured that the Indian working day was reduced to 8 hours. The Modi government is now rolling back that hard-won right.”
He alleged that the new laws allow up to 10 hours of work per day, placing a heavy burden on poor workers while benefiting the wealthy. “This will only widen the gap in wealth distribution,” he added.