Mysuru: Nearly 24 pourakarmikas, out of the 50 have not been paid their salary for over a year now, it was revealed at a meeting of the Mysuru City Corporation, chaired by National Safai Karmachari Commission chairman Mahanar Valijbai Jala and member Jagadish Hiremani to review the various welfare programmes for pourakarmikas.The meeting also revealed the pathetic conditions of the UGD workers especially those into jettind and desilting works.
Speaking at the meeting Palaniswamy, of BR Ambedkar Adi Dravida Yuvakara Abirudhi Maha Sabha was appreciative of the corporation for providing various facilities and addressing the pourakarmikas issues.However he requested the corporation and the commission to take steps to provide salary to those pourakarmikas who are working in UGD but have not got salary even after a year. When the corporation commissioner Jagadeesh sought reason from Yadav, Executive Engineer of UGD for not providing salary to these workers, Yadav mentioned that they have not taken any permission or approval to work and will be told not to come to work. His response irked pourakarmikas, including Palaniswamy who told the commission that he is ready to take the chairperson and corporation officials to the place where these workers are put into work. The upset pourakarmikas even threatened to stage protest against Yadav’s remarks.
Out of the nearly 300 pourakarmikas workng in UGD at Mysuru City Corporation, 27 have been working for more than eight years while around 50 joined work just a year back. Those working for eight years are also not getting salary on time, and their ESI and PF haave been unpaid for the past couple of months exposing these workers to lot of risks. Both the commission chairperson and member of commission assured to provide justice and their pending salary at the earliest. Those working in UGD also complained that the contractor is not providing them minimum protective gears, including gloves and masks as mandated.
Protective gears for Pourakarmikas
Mahanar Valijbai Jala and Jagadish Hiremani along with their staff members inspected Kurabarahalli and found that it lacked quality protective gears required to be provided to the Pourakarmikas and hence instructed the authorities to immediately make arrangements for the same.
Create awareness about various facilities:
The commission chairperson also directed the authorities especially Ambedkar Nigama and various other such departments to create awareness about various facilities available for SC/ST. The officials assured to take up the awareness at the earliest.
Commission mulls issuing notice to officials absent at meet:
The commission chairperson who was irked with the absence of various department heads, including Deputy Commissioner decided to issue them a notice for not turning up at the meeting.
Commission chairperson appreciates commissioner and team for cleanliness maintained in the city:
National Safai Karmachari Commission chairman Mahanar Valijbai Jala appreciated corporation commissioner Jagadeesh for maintaining the cleanliness in the city. In turn corporation officials also mentioned that they are hopefully positive that Mysuru city will be declared as cleanest city in the country this time. Jala appreciated corporation officials for taking up various cleanliness awareness programs including door to door garbage collection.
