BBMP Pourakarmikas in Bengaluru commemorated their victory as permanent employees of the Greater Bengaluru Authority at an event held on Sunday, September 7. Many BBMP workers, members of the All India Municipal and Sanitation Workers Federation (affiliated with the All India Central Council of Trade Unions, AICCTU), attended the programme, marking the culmination of a 20-year struggle for regularisation.
On May 1, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had issued appointment letters to some pourakarmikas. After a long struggle for their rights and dignity, over 12,000 sanitation workers, mostly assigned sweeping duties, have now received their appointment letters.
For more than two decades, predominantly Dalit women Powrakarmikas, who have tirelessly worked to keep Bengaluru clean and protect public health, fought against the exploitative contract system. Their persistent organising and fearless struggle resulted in the abolition of the contract system and recognition of Powrakarmikas as regular employees of the BBMP.
On this occasion, AICCTU released a booklet titled “Safaikaramcharis and Other Sanitation Workers – The Struggle for Liberation”, detailing the situation and struggles of Powrakarmikas across India.
Speaking at the Victory Event, Com. Nirmala, President of BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha, said, “This victory was built on the relentless efforts of the union and the workers. Earlier, they earned only Rs. 2,000–Rs. 5,000 a month despite working full-time. Now, they earn Rs. 41,000 per month and live with dignity. We will continue to strengthen the struggle for rights and dignity.”
Com. V. Shankar, National President of AICCTU, noted, “While workers in many states continue court battles for regularisation, Karnataka’s Powrakarmikas achieved victory through street struggles, setting an example for others.”
The programme, attended by over 500 workers, was presided over by Com. P.P. Appanna, State President of AICCTU, with participation from Com. Maitreyi (General Secretary), Com. Uday Bhatt, Com. Mahendra Parida, Com. R.S. Mani, Com. Nagraj Poojar, Com. Lekha, and Com. Mani.
