Mysuru: In a gesture that will help Mysuru retains the cleanest city tag in India for third year in a row, the district administration on Tuesday awarded district Rajyotsava award to two civic workers. Senior pourakarmikas Venkatamma Heeraiah and Paramesh, the two beneficiaries who are serving in ward 1 and 37 respectively, working for the past more than three decades have been awarded the prestigious district Rajyotsava award. This is for the first time that the civic workers have got Rajyotsava award.
After Mysuru city was declared as the cleanest city in the country for two consecutive years, the selection committee headed by CL Anand, Assistant Commissioner, Mysuru district decided to include couple of pourakarmiaks in the list as a token of appreciation and motivation for their dedication towards keeping city neat and clean and also getting good name for Mysuru. When he brought this to the notice of Deputy Commissioner D Randeep, who too after realizing their effort within no time approved the inclusion of pourakarmikas in the 18 member Rajyothsava award list.
CL Anand said, “It is because of their untiring effort today we have been recognized and awarded the cleanest city in the country for two consecutive years. We the officials receive awards in Delhi, but pourakarmikas who are real heroes are not recognized. Hence keeping this in mind, we decided to include them in the list so that it will encourage them to do still better in days to come”.
C Ramachandra, Health Officer, Mysuru City Corporation, too appreciated the district administration’s initiative in recognizing pourakarmikas for the Rajyothsava award. “They really deserve more such awards. It’s because of their untiring effort Mysuru was awarded the cleanest city tag for two consecutive years. Such awards will really motivate them to do much better. It will also inspire other pourakarmikas,” he said.
Venkatamma who works in ward No 1 and who is on the verge of retirement said, “We were just doing our duties sincerely and honestly and the award came in our way. It’s really a good gesture from the district administration. We are really delighted with the honors, thanks to district administration”. Arumugam, mesan of Venkatamma and who is seeing Venkatamma for nearly 28 years said, “She is very sincere and honest lady. She hardly takes any leave and comes to work on time. She really deserves such an award”.
Including 620 permanent pourakarmikas, there are 2400 pourakarmikas who are spread in nine different zones and 65 wards across the city. In each ward minimum 30 pourakarmikas take up the cleaning work.
Hardwork being paid
It can also be brought to light that the salary of Pourakarmikas who are working on temporary basis enhanced from Rs 8003 to Rs 14,043 per month. When they checked their September salary which was given on October 1, they were delighted to see the enhancement from Rs 8003 to Rs 14,043. Earlier after all deduction that is PF and ESI, they were taking home nearly Rs 6500, but now after all deduction, they will be taking home Rs 12,500 which is almost double their previous salary.
