Pourakarmikas stage protest against non-payment of wages

Hundreds of 'pourakarmikas' staged a protest on Friday at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) head office at N R Square against the non-payment of wages.

Though the BBMP has abolished contract system last year, the civic agency has not included the names of all 'pourakarmikas' in the biometrics and there has been a delay in paying full wages since January, they claim.

Krishna Kumari, a worker from Banaswadi, has been struggling to run her house for the last three months. "They won't even give our leave and threaten us that we would be sacked when we ask for it," she said.

Another worker from Ramamurthy Nagar, Venkatamma, said that it will be a great relief if they get their pending salary.

The 'pourakarmikas' have threatened to boycott work during the elections if the officers do not fulfil their demands.