Chikkamagaluru: Dalit Sangha Samithi (founder faction of Professor Krishnappa) State Convener Tarikere Venkatesh said that the workers are facing a lot of difficulties due to non-payment of minimum wages to the Pourakarmikas of door-to-door garbage collectors and lack of safety kits.
Participating in a protest by the Contract Pourakarmikas’ Association, which entered the second day at Azad Park in the City, he said that those who collect garbage from door-to-door every day through bell carts are suffering due to lack of adequate security. “Sanitation workers who have been living in the garbage collection profession for the past several years are suffering from many diseases. Going for treatment will cost thousands of rupees. With this, there is a situation where there is no minimum wage in the profession and if there is food, there are no clothes or if there is clothing, there is no food,” he said.
Municipal Administration should allow the contract pourakarmikas to live a fit life in the society by fulfilling various demands, he said and warned otherwise, there will be a fierce fight in the coming days.
“After the protest, Tarikere Venkatesh met the Deputy Commissioner and informed him that steps would be taken to provide minimum wages and adequate security to the contract pourakarmikas immediately,” he said.
