Bengaluru: Pourakarmikas in the city Sunday celebrated their hard-won victory that earned them regular employment under BBMP, now Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), but the workers, union leaders and activists pledged to continue their fight for regularisation of waste collection vehicle drivers and loaders.A booklet titled ‘Safaikarmacharis and other Sanitation Workers – The Struggle for Liberation’ was released by the union during the event at IAT Hall, Queen’s Road. It details the socio-economic challenges faced by civic workers across India and documents their ongoing efforts to secure dignity and fair wages.In May, 12,692 pourakarmikas were granted permanent employee status. Pourakarmia Sangha president Nirmala M acknowledged the role of unions and said: “Many are now saying that street sweepers are earning more than office-goers. Some of us started with Rs 2,000 a month, without even attendance being recorded…”“…We used to get stale food from residents and water served in bathroom mugs. Today, even officers offer us chairs and sit with us to discuss demands,” she added.AICCTU national president V Shankar praised the civic workers’ movement in Karnataka as exemplary and invited workers to join a national campaign early next year. He also cited struggles by sanitation workers in Tamil Nadu against privatisation efforts.Labour leader Uday Bhat linked contract employment to 1990s economic reforms and described the movement as a challenge to caste discrimination. The event ended with songs of resistance and expressions of gratitude to activists Clifton D’Rosario, Maitreyi Krishnan and PP Appanna, who had played a key role in ensuring pourakarmikas were regularised.
