Pourakarmikas get minimum wages

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contract pourakarmikas were in a joyous mood after they received the cheques of minimum wages from Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday.Each pourakarmika is entitled to a minimum wage of Rs 6,936 per month, but he/ she will receive Rs 5,054 per month after mandatory deductions.Following assurance by Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Minister S Sureshkumar to implement the minimum wages for contract pourakarmikas, the Karnataka State Corporation, Municipality, Town Municipality Pourakarmika Union had called off its protest in April.There are around 18,000 pourakarmikas working in the Palike, of which only 4,000 are regular employees and the rest are contract workers.Speaking on the occasion, the CM said, “The money given to you is not ‘alms’ or ‘charity’.It is the salary for the work you do to keep the globally-acclaimed Bangalore city clean.”Also pointing out that the BJP-led state government was not holding any function to celebrate its fourth year in office, he said, “We consider events like this as our real celebration.It is our responsibility to give benefits to the last person in the state and this event has brought real satisfaction to me.”He called upon the workers to work together to keep the city clean.He assured the pourakarmikas that their other demands will be addressed in a phased manner.Minister Sureshkumar and Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy were present.