Bengaluru’s powrakarmikas or waste disposal and sanitation workers finally tasted victory on July 4, 2022 following a four-day strike across Karnataka, compelling the state government to accept demands for regularisation of their jobs. Authorities promised permanent jobs to the sanitation workers in the state within three months.
BBMP Powrakarmikara Sangha and Karnataka Pragatipara Powrakarmikara Sangha congratulated the waste disposal and sanitation workers across 31 districts who refused to pick-up garbage for four days. Thousands of workers gathered at Freedom Park in the state capital to voice their demand for permanency under the direct payment system.
Hailing the news, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) to whom the protest groups are affiliated too congratulated them for fighting against the undignified working conditions. AICCTU State Committee member Maitreyi Krishnan said this is a definite victory for the workers.
“Powrakarmikas have been working here for the last 30 years. The workers are all from the Dalit community and primarily women. This decision by the government is definitely a step towards victory. And if the government fails on its promises we will have another struggle,” she said.
Revolutionary congratulations to all our comrades & workers for the success of 4 days long Powrakarmikaras (sanitation workers) strike in Karnataka for regularisation, wages & benefits on par with regular workers.
Com. Maitreyi of @aicctukar provides details of historic victory pic.twitter.com/rKv3HYQ2R8— CPIML Liberation (@cpimlliberation) July 4, 2022
The government agreed to set up a committee with representatives of powrakarmika unions for job appointment rules. The committee will also look into implementation of ‘equal pay for equal work’ for workers. In pursuance of this, the legislative assembly will propose a special law in the upcoming assembly session.
Further, auto-drivers, helpers and loaders will be brought under the direct-payment system in all districts in a phased manner, except those in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). When asked about this distinction, Krishnan told SabrangIndia that this was an attempt by the authorities to create an “artificial difference” between BBMP and other auto-drivers, etc.
“It is claimed that the vehicles in other districts are owned by the administration whereas in Bengaluru, the vehicles are owned by the contractors. When in reality, the nature of the work is the same,” said Krishnan.
Unions leading the protest said it will continue to fight against illegal and exploitative contract system for these workers.
Additionally, the government also agreed to implement the IPD Salappa report that talks about the population to workers ratio and maternity benefits among other services. It may be noted that while the report was recommended in 1976, the socio-economic conditions of workers remain the same. Workers hold this report in high regard for its understanding of the evils of the contract system. Further, the report also aims to ensure that the caste-oriented occupation does not haunt younger generations by provision of scholarships for children of powrakarmikas, housing schemes, etc.
This year has been especially brutal on the city’s sanitation work force. On June 18, Bengaluru’s Hebbagodi police lathi-charged Bengali-speaking migrants living in the low income neighbourhoods, allegedly to forcefully evict them. Residents said the officials ignored their documents proving their Indian nationality. Similarly in May, police raided homes of Bengali-speaking migrants under the pretext of an “anti-Bangaldeshi drive”. These areas were home to rag-pickers employed by the BBMP.
According to Krishnan, these workers are an essential part of the system. Yet, they continue to suffer the “bogey of Bangladeshi migrants”. Earlier, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) had approached the High Court against such sudden evictions and demolitions. At the time, the court not only condemned the actions but also directed the government to provide due compensation for each house. Still, the struggles of workers continue.
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