<p>The twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad, with an official population of 10.68 lakh (as per the 2011 census), have 2,312 civic workers including 1,620 contract-based employees, 119 emergency service employees and 573 permanent employees. Here, there are no drinking water, toilet or restroom facilities available for the civic workers.</p>.<p>While Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) officials claim that they have provided safety gear, a majority of them do not use them as it is inconvenient. Most of them complain of skin diseases, breathing and digestive problems among others.</p>.<p>Officials say they are conducting health check-up camps for the workers once in three months but pourakarmikas are disputing it.</p>.<p id="page-title"><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/poor-health-of-civic-workers-swept-under-the-carpet-789563.html" target="_blank">Poor health of civic workers swept under the carpet</a></strong></p>.<p id="page-title"><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/personal-protective-equipment-mandatory-789562.html" target="_blank">‘Personal protective equipment mandatory’</a></strong></p>.<p>HDMC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences to provide civic workers with advance medical treatment at a subsidised rate.</p>.<p>While their working hours are from 6.30 am to 2 pm, in some locations they are also deployed in the night, especially in the market area.</p>.<p>In Kalaburagi, an outsourced civic worker, on condition of anonymity said, “The corporation is regularly remitting salary to the bank account. We are being served morning<br />food. But the corporation is not regularly giving us hand gloves, masks, and shoes. While loading hazardous objects, we sustain injuries. The treatment facility is unsatisfactory.”</p>.<p>Rama in Bengaluru, meanwhile, says that she has not got her health card although she applied for it seven months back and there haven’t been any health check-ups recently. “We go to the government hospitals to get treated,” she said.</p>.<p>Mysuru city has a total of 2,158 pourakarmikas. Out of them, 540 are permanent workers and the rest are working under a contract basis. The Mysuru City Corporation has awarded a contract to four persons, who maintain the contract civic workers.</p>.<p>According to a few pourakarmikas, the authorities are taking measures for the welfare of the civic workers but, they need to be implemented effectively. A few contract workers are deprived of the facilities as the contractors are not issuing the equipment and safety gear.</p>
<p>The twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad, with an official population of 10.68 lakh (as per the 2011 census), have 2,312 civic workers including 1,620 contract-based employees, 119 emergency service employees and 573 permanent employees. Here, there are no drinking water, toilet or restroom facilities available for the civic workers.</p>.<p>While Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) officials claim that they have provided safety gear, a majority of them do not use them as it is inconvenient. Most of them complain of skin diseases, breathing and digestive problems among others.</p>.<p>Officials say they are conducting health check-up camps for the workers once in three months but pourakarmikas are disputing it.</p>.<p id="page-title"><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/poor-health-of-civic-workers-swept-under-the-carpet-789563.html" target="_blank">Poor health of civic workers swept under the carpet</a></strong></p>.<p id="page-title"><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/personal-protective-equipment-mandatory-789562.html" target="_blank">‘Personal protective equipment mandatory’</a></strong></p>.<p>HDMC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences to provide civic workers with advance medical treatment at a subsidised rate.</p>.<p>While their working hours are from 6.30 am to 2 pm, in some locations they are also deployed in the night, especially in the market area.</p>.<p>In Kalaburagi, an outsourced civic worker, on condition of anonymity said, “The corporation is regularly remitting salary to the bank account. We are being served morning<br />food. But the corporation is not regularly giving us hand gloves, masks, and shoes. While loading hazardous objects, we sustain injuries. The treatment facility is unsatisfactory.”</p>.<p>Rama in Bengaluru, meanwhile, says that she has not got her health card although she applied for it seven months back and there haven’t been any health check-ups recently. “We go to the government hospitals to get treated,” she said.</p>.<p>Mysuru city has a total of 2,158 pourakarmikas. Out of them, 540 are permanent workers and the rest are working under a contract basis. The Mysuru City Corporation has awarded a contract to four persons, who maintain the contract civic workers.</p>.<p>According to a few pourakarmikas, the authorities are taking measures for the welfare of the civic workers but, they need to be implemented effectively. A few contract workers are deprived of the facilities as the contractors are not issuing the equipment and safety gear.</p>