Denied pay for 6 months, pourakarmika ends life

A 40-year-old pourakarmika committed suicide after being denied his salary for six months. His death led to tension in front of KC General Hospital, where his body was taken, as hundreds of pourakarmikas staged a protest there.

The deceased, Subramani S, was a resident of Muneshwara Block in Vyalikaval, and was unable to feed his family.

The angry pourakarmikas demanded handing over his body to protest in front of the BBMP headquarters.

The Malleswaram police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Mayor K Sampath Raj visited the hospital and announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a job to the victim’s wife Kavitha, who has two children. Subramani was working as a contract employee for the BBMP for nearly 20 years in various sections like mosquito control, sweeper and garbage truck driver.

"We are in such a state that we are unable to feed our children and ourselves. Last week, I requested the BBMP officials to release at least one month's salary for our survival but they chased me away asking me to send my husband for work. My husband has worked for months without any salary."

"He has been working for the BBMP for the last 18 years as a sweeper and his initial salary was Rs 5,000. In January, he was made a permanent employee. Though his pay was hiked to Rs 17,700, we haven't received it."

Subramani's father-in-law Narayana said that since his son-in-law was not paid his salary, he was forced to borrow from his friends and relatives including pawn brokers, to feed his family. "He was hoping to get the salary and clear his debt but officials denied his pay despite several requests," he said. He demanded action against officials who held up his salary without any reason.

The Vyalikaval police registered a medico-legal case and took a complaint from the deceased's family against BBMP officials. A senior police officer said no one was named in the complaint. "Once we find evidence, officials will be booked for abetment to suicide," the police said.