Thousands of pourakarmikas attached to the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), under the banner of MCC Contract and Permanent Pourakarmikas Association, boycotted work and launched an indefinite protest on Monday to pressure the state government to regularise their services.
The workers, who gathered near the MCC main office on New Sayyaji Rao road, raised slogans against the state government. They said that, “As per the survey conducted by the Safai Karmachari Commission, the average lifespan of a worker is 45-50 years and a majority of the workers suffer from asthma, cancer, leprosy and other skin-related diseases. But, the state as well as the union government are not bothered about our issues,” they said.
Taking severe exception to the state government, they said Congress leaders had assured of regularisation of their services before going for Assembly elections in 2013 and even the Karnataka High Court had directed the state to regularise their jobs. “Though the Cabinet decided to regularise the services in May 2016, the government failed to implement it. In the wake of our protest if people suffer from health issues, the government should take responsibility,” they said.
Corporator V Shylendra said, “Dalits are victims of vote bank politics and all political parties are neglecting the problems of the community. With regard to issues pertaining to Dalits, the state government’s approach has been irresponsible,” he said.
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