Bengaluru: Around 30% of Bengaluru’s pourakarmikas were found absent during a surprise early-morning inspection by Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda Saturday, prompting him to publicly reprimand the workers demanding job regularisation.In a video that has since gone viral on social media, he is seen interacting with pourakarmikas. The minister is heard telling the workers that they must first report to work regularly and perform their duties before demanding permanent employment.He pointed out that their absenteeism was affecting cleanliness across the city and resulting in public criticism of the govt and civic authorities.Bengaluru has around 16,000 pourakarmikas, of whom about 12,800 have already been regularised. The remaining workers are yet to be absorbed into govt service. Auto drivers and helpers, meanwhile, continue to work under private contracts.Sunday, All-India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) demanded an apology from the minister, alleging that he had publicly humiliated civic workers, many of whom are women and dalits. It condemned what it called the minister’s “insulting and degrading” attitude towards pourakarmikas, saying the workers were on the frontline of maintaining the city’s cleanliness and public health.AICCTU said the minister’s remarks ignored the larger issues faced by pourakarmikas, including the contract and outsourcing system, work pressure, delayed wages, lack of safety equipment and inadequate social security. “Efficiency does not mean scolding the workers but managing the city in a scientific and humane manner while maintaining the rights, dignity and security of the workers,” the union said.It also demanded weekly offs for the workers and an end to the contract and outsourcing system.BoxBiocon founder backs minister amid online debateThe minister’s remarks triggered discussion online, with several people supporting his stance and others questioning whether the working conditions of pourakarmikas had received adequate attention.Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw praised Byre Gowda’s intervention. “Well said, Krishna Byre Gowda, our pourakarmikas need to first demonstrate responsible workmanship. Unless the city is clean, no question of permanent jobs,” she wrote on X.Several other social media users echoed similar sentiments. User ThirdEye wrote: “KBG is spitting facts here. Most of the pourakarmikas demand money from each house/apartment to collect garbage. If you don’t pay them, they just don’t turn up every morning.”Another user, RSNMurthy, wrote: “Very true. Many can be seen in clean uniform roaming on scooters with brooms in Malleswaram when few dedicated men work hard to keep the area clean.”Prakash Naik wrote: “Sometimes garbage is filled on footpaths for a week in JP Nagar 8th phase, no accountability. Thanks for questioning and bringing some discipline.”However, many others posted in support of the civic workers. Clifton D’ Rozario, replying to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s post, wrote, “Publicly humiliating Dalit Pourakarmikas in a democracy is “Well Said”! Feudal minds do think alike. Garbage vehicle workers are exploited under the contract system – not paid for months. No ESI/PF/Weekly off/ water/toilets while they are handling rotting garbage with bare hands.”Krushika AV wrote, “Making their employment permanent is their right. You are no king, minister. They aren’t your subjects. Making their employment permanent ensures rights & benefits. You aren’t doing any favous…”SrinivasHande wrote, “@krishnabyregowda this is unacceptable. Do you know they ain’t provided with even basic gears to protect themselves. There is no dignity in pourakarmikas’ job. They are treated badly even though they are single most important people to sustain a city like Bengaluru. Have respect.”
