Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar having lunch with Pourakarmikas (civic workers) during the Pourakarmika Day programme at Palace Grounds, in Bengaluru on Friday
Bengaluru: Pourakarmikas requesting that their daily snack allowance be raised from Rs 35 to Rs 50 got an unexpected boost Friday, with chief minister DK Shivakumar announcing that it would instead be doubled to Rs 70. Around 28,000 pourakarmikas have already been regularised, he said, adding that govt will also set up a cabinet sub-committee comprising officials from the finance, social welfare and urban development departments to examine the workers’ long-pending demands.
Calling pourakarmikas “nation builders” and “ambassadors of cleanliness”, Shivakumar said their work was vital to public health and urged them to perform their duties with dignity and self-respect. “About 60% are genuinely doing their work every day, but the actions of the remaining few affect the reputation of the entire community,” he said. The CM, however, flagged complaints about some workers not discharging their duties properly, saying the actions of a few should not affect the reputation of the larger workforce.