Over 12k municipal workers now BBMP permanent staff

Bengaluru: In an historic move, 12,692 pourakarmikas (civic workers) in Bengaluru received regularisation certificates on Thursday and are now permanent employees. 

Speaking at the certificate distribution event, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that 9,000 more workers, including sanitary workers, would be regularised in the coming days. 

“There are many drivers, helpers and other workers who will be considered for regularisation in the coming days,” he said. 

He added that the government was working on a number of welfare schemes for pourakarmikas, including sending 1,000 of them abroad. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the government to regularise more workers. 

“This is a historic decision. More and more workers in other cities should be regularised if they meet the set criteria,” he said. 

Regularisation comes with a number of perks. Permanent employees will receive salaries on a par with Group ‘D’ employees of the civic body. Most will see their salaries nearly double. 

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that the state government considered pourakarmikas ambassadors of cleanliness and children of God. 

“We have earmarked Rs 600 crore for the welfare of pourakarmikas. We are trying to implement the IPD Salappa report and our government will stand for the welfare of pourakarmikas,” he said. 

At present, 15,400 pourakarmikas are paid through the Direct Payment System (DPS) and only 12,692 are being regularised, considering the criteria set by BBMP. 

According to the criteria, the services of those who have worked for at least two years under DPS and are below the age of 55 years will be regularised.