Pourakarmikas or sanitation workers in Bangalore do not receive hardship allowance even after more than a year since its announcement.
While many pourakarmikas in the city are unaware of the existence of a hardship allowance, those aware complain they do not receive it every month. In the previous year’s budget speech, former Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai introduced a hardship allowance of Rs. 2000 for the pourakarmikas, “considering that they work in dangerous and difficult conditions.”
A group of pourakarmikas working near Balekundri Circle said that they have never heard of the hardship allowance. This is after more than a year of its announcement. Harish, a pourakarmika said, “I have never received a single rupee more than my salary of Rs. 12,000 in my 10 years of work.” He added that he feels lucky to receive his monthly salary on time, because he knows of many fellow pourakarmikas who do not receive even that.
Pourakarmikas responsible for collecting and segregating waste at KR Market, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)West Zone, face the same problem. M. Saravana is a BBMP West Zone supervisor responsible for overseeing garbage segregation and collection. He said that the 16 pourakarmikas under his supervision have not received the hardship allowance even after repeatedly demanding it from the contractor they work under. “Forget the allowance, we are still expecting our salaries from the past two months,” Prabhu, a pourakarmika,said.
Santosh, another pourakarmika said that they are not provided with the required safety equipment timely, and have to buy them out of their own pockets. He added that although it is meant as a token of gratitude for their hard work, the hardship allowance they receive in some months goes into buying the equipment. “If not both, they should either give us the allowance or the proper safety gear, why should we have to spend our salary on buying equipment?” he asked.
Lalitha, coordinator at Action Aid Association said that although things have changed for the better for most pourakarmikas after their unionization, there are still many who are left behind. “This is true especially for the non-regularised pourakarmikas,” she said.
Regularization of jobs has been a long-standing demand of the pourakarmikas. According to the official BBMP Solid Waste Management website, just over 1700 Pourakarmikas (out of a total 18,500) are ‘Under the direct payment of ULB’ (Urban Local Body). Pratibha R, Joint Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, BBMP explained that these workers receive their salaries directly from the BBMP fund. She added that the rest or around 17,000 Pourakarmikas, currently working under contractors, will also be brought under the direct payment system soon.. She also said that the hardship allowance is transferred to their bank accounts along with their monthly salaries.
R. Ranganath is the BBMP contractor under whom Prabhu and Santosh are employed. He admitted that not all pourakarmikas under him receive the allowance every month and cited pending bills as a reason.
D. Chowdhury, research affiliate at the National Law University said that sanitation workers are highly underpaid in India. “The state governments should assist them in several ways, either by giving them fair salaries or through perks which can increase their quality of life. Their right to livelihood and dignity must be respected.” She added that the additional Rs. 2000 is a good incentive but their base salaries must also be increased. “All pourakarmikas must be regularized and made permanent employees of the BBMP and remunerated at least Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month, for the kind of hard work they do,” she said.
