<p>Kalaburagi: Government employees in several districts of North Karnataka are awaiting change of office timings to get relief from the sweltering heat as the region is sizzling under more than 42 degree Celsius temperature.</p><p>The government has not changed the office timings for the last two years owing to the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Now, the employees are exerting pressure to change the timings until May when the summer season will be over. They have made several pleas to the district administrations in this regard.</p><p>The government had changed office timings from 10 am to 5.30 pm to 8 am to 1.30 pm during the last few years by obtaining opinions from regional commissioners of Kalaburagi and Belagavi divisions after considering the demand from Karnataka State Government Employees Association. The employees had discharged their duties as per the changed timings in eight districts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Vijayapura and Bagalkot. The government had also put a condition that the employees should obey the orders of the deputy commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs to perform duty beyond the prescribed hours in the event of emergencies.</p><p><strong>Lack basic amenities</strong></p><p>Association’s Kalaburagi district president Basavaraj Balundgi argued that the government offices in rural areas lack basic amenities and this necessitates the change of timings during summer. He also contended that government employees find it difficult to work in the hot weather conditions in taluks, hobli and rural areas due to the lack of adequate power supply.</p><p>“The change of timings will help the people get their works done by visiting government offices in the morning before the temperature rises. Moreover, many employees and the general public including old people, women and those suffering from various ailments face health problems in the heat condition. Government offices in district headquarters have some basic facilities like air-conditioner and coolers, but, employees working in rural areas are forced to suffer if office timing is not changed as they lack of basic facilities”, Basavaraj Balagund said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Association state president C N Shadakshari said that the Association submits memoranda to the government to change the office timings during every summer and it has been followed since the last seven to eight years. “We are awaiting approval from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as it is difficult for the employees to work in 44 degree Celsius temperature. This should be adopted in eight districts of North Karnataka as many government offices do not have necessary facilities”, he added.</p><p><strong>Construction workers</strong></p><p>The rising temperature has dealt a severe blow to the construction workers who work under hot weather conditions. The labourers are allowed to take rest from 12 noon to 1.30 pm to avoid the heatwaves and render one hour additional work in the evening. The brick kiln workers are also working from 6 am to 11.30 am and 4.30 to 7 pm every day owing to hot and humid weather conditions.</p><p>“The high temperature has hit construction labourers hard as they are daily wagers who are not assured continuous work. Therefore, the Labour Department should provide them safety kits like hard hats with built-in sunshades and cooling pads”, Karnataka State Construction and Quarrying Workers Association Kalaburagi district president Prabhudev Yalasangi said. </p>
<p>Kalaburagi: Government employees in several districts of North Karnataka are awaiting change of office timings to get relief from the sweltering heat as the region is sizzling under more than 42 degree Celsius temperature.</p><p>The government has not changed the office timings for the last two years owing to the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Now, the employees are exerting pressure to change the timings until May when the summer season will be over. They have made several pleas to the district administrations in this regard.</p><p>The government had changed office timings from 10 am to 5.30 pm to 8 am to 1.30 pm during the last few years by obtaining opinions from regional commissioners of Kalaburagi and Belagavi divisions after considering the demand from Karnataka State Government Employees Association. The employees had discharged their duties as per the changed timings in eight districts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Vijayapura and Bagalkot. The government had also put a condition that the employees should obey the orders of the deputy commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs to perform duty beyond the prescribed hours in the event of emergencies.</p><p><strong>Lack basic amenities</strong></p><p>Association’s Kalaburagi district president Basavaraj Balundgi argued that the government offices in rural areas lack basic amenities and this necessitates the change of timings during summer. He also contended that government employees find it difficult to work in the hot weather conditions in taluks, hobli and rural areas due to the lack of adequate power supply.</p><p>“The change of timings will help the people get their works done by visiting government offices in the morning before the temperature rises. Moreover, many employees and the general public including old people, women and those suffering from various ailments face health problems in the heat condition. Government offices in district headquarters have some basic facilities like air-conditioner and coolers, but, employees working in rural areas are forced to suffer if office timing is not changed as they lack of basic facilities”, Basavaraj Balagund said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Association state president C N Shadakshari said that the Association submits memoranda to the government to change the office timings during every summer and it has been followed since the last seven to eight years. “We are awaiting approval from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as it is difficult for the employees to work in 44 degree Celsius temperature. This should be adopted in eight districts of North Karnataka as many government offices do not have necessary facilities”, he added.</p><p><strong>Construction workers</strong></p><p>The rising temperature has dealt a severe blow to the construction workers who work under hot weather conditions. The labourers are allowed to take rest from 12 noon to 1.30 pm to avoid the heatwaves and render one hour additional work in the evening. The brick kiln workers are also working from 6 am to 11.30 am and 4.30 to 7 pm every day owing to hot and humid weather conditions.</p><p>“The high temperature has hit construction labourers hard as they are daily wagers who are not assured continuous work. Therefore, the Labour Department should provide them safety kits like hard hats with built-in sunshades and cooling pads”, Karnataka State Construction and Quarrying Workers Association Kalaburagi district president Prabhudev Yalasangi said. </p>