'Coffee with Pourakarmikas' to boost civic workers' morale

 The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will launch 'Coffee with Pourakarmikas' where officials and public representatives will meet civic workers every Friday and discuss their problems.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad who is in charge of  Sanjay Nagar and Radhakrishna Temple wards has already launched the drive. Each of the BBMP officers has been given charge of two wards each.

The trial on two Fridays was encouraging, prompting Prasad to issue a circular asking officials should take along public representatives to hold 'Coffee with Pourakarmikas'.

Prasad told DH said the initiative is to mainly boost pourakarmikas’ morale. He added that such events assume significance when the Palike is pushing to segregate waste at source. “This is also an attempt to build a bonding between the officers and pourakarmikas," said Prasad.

The programme will also be utilised to educate pourakarmikas about welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

"Since most pourakarmikas are from the downtrodden sections, they need to know about various schemes by the Centre and the state besides those in the BBMP," said Prasad.

Since interacting with pourakarmikas is difficult since they work in different localities, the commissioner has directed the officers to meet them early in the morning at mustering points where they gather before dispersing to their work spots.

Venkatesh, a pourakarmika said, the initiative is good but the officers are already aware of their problems.

“Our quarters are in a pathetic condition. Most of us live in slums without basic facilities. We send our children to government schools where the quality of education is poor since we cannot afford to send them to English medium schools,” said Venkatesh.