BENGALURU: With the state government insisting that there should be only one pourakarmika for every 700 people in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), many contract pourakarmikas are now afraid of losing their jobs.
The under secretary to the Urban Development Department issued the order to ULBs stating that this is as per the Cabinet decision.
While some contract pourakarmikas will be absorbed as permanent, the contracts of others will be terminated after their term is over. These people will be paid directly by ULBs and not by the contractors.
This has left pourakarmikas worried. “I am 53 years old and have been working as a contract pourakarmika for 16 years. I have only a few years before I retire, so I will be sacked,” said Rani C, who works in Rajajinagar. An employee from the Solid Waste Management Department in BBMP said 120 to 130 pourakarmikas work in each ward. “If we go by the new rule, the numbers will reduce to 70. Where should the others go?’’ he asked.
BBMP Additional Commissioner (Health) Sarfaraz Khan said there are 32,000 pourakarmikas.
“With the new rule, the number will be reduced to 15,000. As per the Development Corporation of Karnataka rules, we need 15,000 pourakarmikas. Even today, we have only 15,000 pourakarmikas. The others are garbage truck drivers and other staffers,” he claimed. However, official sources confirmed that some pourakarmikas will lose their job. “At least 4,000 people will lose their jobs,’’ a senior official said.