JOIN USThere seems to be no respite for data entry operators of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as their dues have not yet been cleared.
The operators held a protest on February 25 and were assured by BBMP additional commissioner (administration) B B Cauvery that their dues would be cleared within three days.
There are over 600 data entry operators in the Palike City limits working at help centres and Palike offices.
Sharada M, who works at the Palike’s Dasarahalli zone office as a computer operator, said that their employer, Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keonics), had written to the BBMP in November last year, saying that since their contract with BBMP had expired, they would not be able to take in and pay the operators.
“We got to know about this in December and immediately informed the BBMP. But, they told us to continue working and claimed that they will call for a fresh tender to outsource the service. But till date, it has not happened and our salaries remain unpaid since November last year,” she said.
“The Palike had called for a separate tender to hire operators at health centres. This too has not materialised. They are not clear on the payments and are making us work unnecessarily,” said Tanujakshi K M, who works at the Palike head office.
Keonics officials maintain that they will be able to pay salaries only for November and it is the duty of the civic agency to pay for the remaining three months.
One of the Palike officials told Deccan Herald that the tender which has been called is awaiting government approval. “A decision regarding the payments will be taken after discussing with Keonics officials,” the official said.