Technology will gradually take over manual cleaning work: Minister
Mysuru: In the coming years, technology will gradually take over manual cleaning work, much like how wars are now fought with technology, said HC Mahadevappa, minister for social welfare and Mysuru district minister.
Addressing a gathering at the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) auditorium on Friday, he urged pourakarmikas (civic workers) to ensure their children are well-educated and aim for higher positions in society. The occasion marked the distribution of permanent appointment order letters to pourakarmikas who are now permanent employees. Out of 10,000 pourakarmikas made permanent across Karnataka, 219 belong to the Mysuru City Corporation.
Highlighting the transformation, the minister said that these workers, who earlier earned around Rs 17,000 per month, will now receive double the salary along with full govt benefits. "This permanent status will help workers lead a more dignified life and elevate their families socially and economically," he said.
Mahadevappa also compared conditions in other states, noting that in Madhya Pradesh, pourakarmikas are paid only Rs 10,000—below minimum wage standards.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
오스템 임플란트 받아가세요
임플란터
더 알아보기
Undo
He reassured that more regularisation drives would be conducted in Karnataka to benefit more workers.
Urging financial prudence, the minister advised pourakarmikas not to waste their increased earnings but instead invest wisely in their families' future. Responding to a request by former mayor Narayan regarding the 88 temporary pourakarmikas who died while on duty, the minister instructed the MCC commissioner to take appropriate steps to support their families.
Avinash S, a civic worker, shared his personal experience, expressing gratitude to the govt. "Earlier, I struggled with a meagre salary of Rs 17,000. Now, with a permanent job and better income, I feel motivated and can finally think about marriage and a secure future," he said.
Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait, deputy commissioner Lakshikanth Reddy, MCC commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif, former mayor and Pourakarmika leader Narayan, and pourakarmika leader Mara were present.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
CBI books JNPT officials, Tata firm for 804cr fraud
Mumbai: CBI has registered a case against Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) officials and Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), a project management consultant, for allegedly causing Rs 804 crore loss to govt in a contract to increase the depth of the channel for large cargo ships. CBI was carrying out searches at several premises at the time of going to the press, report Vijay V Singh & Reeba Zachariah. The FIR mentions "preparation of inflated estimates, restriction of competition to favour international bidders, extension of undue favour to contractor and suppression of reports of independent experts/organisations". CBI conducted searches at Tata Consulting Engineers' (TCE) Mumbai and Navi Mumbai offices and took "some materials from the locations", sources said. CBI has registered a case against JNPT officials and TCE for allegedly causing Rs 804 crore loss to govt in awarding a dredging contract. The sources clarified that TCE acted as a project management consultant for the JNPT dredging projects and earned just Rs 12 crore from them. Late on Friday, CBI issued a press release stating, "Searches were conducted at the residential premises of officials of JNPT and consulting company, and offices of accused private companies at 5 places in Mumbai and Chennai, which led to recovery of documents relating to the Capital Dredging Project, digital devices, and documents showing investments made by public servants." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The FIR was registered against former JNPT chief manager Sunil Kumar Madabhavi, TCE and its project director Devdutt Bose, BoskalisSmit India LLP, Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt Ltd, and unidentified individuals. It says the loss was spread over the dredging project's two phases – 2003-14 and 2013-19. To accommodate large cargo ships, in 2003, JNPT appointed TCE to prepare the phase 1 project report for the cost estimates and time duration. TCE was also awarded the work of project management consultant, including preparation of tender documents and supervision of work. The FIR stated, "Shadow bidding arrangements to support the cartel made by BoskalisSmit India LLP and Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt Ltd were permitted by Madabhavi in connivance with Bose… and other unidentified individuals, thereby enabling the cartel to participate in the bidding process." During the probe, it was found that the pre-dredge survey was manipulated by using the less accurate software 'Qinsy' instead of the globally accepted 'HYPACK' for measuring dredging quantity, the FIR said. CBI claimed that the two phases were planned back-to-back, and their implementation overlapped, though on record, it was mentioned that they would be taken up separately. JNPT had assigned the project report on Phase 2 to TCE in collaboration with E&Y and Howe Project. "Several stringent project qualifications criteria and tailor-made specifications were inserted in the Phase 2 tender documents to eliminate Indian bidders . ..and to the advantage of the international bidders. Such changes were made to allow bidders forming JVs or consortiums to compete for complementary bidding against the Competition Commission of India guidelines," the FIR said.
Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
Autowallah returns Rs 17 lakh to man who left it behind in 3-wheeler
Autowallah returns Rs 17L AIZAWAL: An auto-rickshaw driver in Mizoram's Lawngtlai returned Rs 17 lakh to a businessman from Myanmar, who had inadvertently left the sum behind in his vehicle, reports HC Vanlalruata. Around 9pm Thursday, the businessman had hired Lalhmingmuana's auto-rickshaw for a ride and forgot the cash in a polythene bag. Back at the hotel, panic ensued as the businessman and hotel staff frantically searched the hotel room for the missing money. Upon discovering it, Lalhmingmuana returned to the hotel to hand over the money, expecting nothing in return. C Zathianga, president of the Lawngtlai Auto Rickshaw Owners' Association, praised Lalhmingmuana for his honesty.
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘50-bps Cut a Clear Growth Signal'
India's monetary policymakers used a benign inflation outlook to frontload rate cuts and send a 'clear signal' to productive sectors to boost growth, showed the minutes of the June 6 meeting that slashed benchmark rates by an outsized half a percentage point. A bigger reduction would also quicken transmission, argued those in favour. 'Given the sharp reduction in inflation over the past few months and the projected reduction in annual average inflation… it is expected that the front-loaded rate action along with certainty on the liquidity front would send a clear signal to the economic agents, thereby supporting consumption and investment through lower cost of borrowing,' RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra was cited as saying in the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) published Friday. On June 6, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered the benchmark repo rate by an unexpected 50 basis points to 5.5% and changed the policy stance to 'neutral' from 'accommodative', going by the majority vote of the MPC. One basis point is a hundredth of a percentage point. Rajiv Ranjan, an internal member on the rate-setting panel, was of the opinion that since monetary policy worked with a lag, under the current circumstances, a 50-bps cut was preferable to two 25-bps cuts for faster transmission. 'Similar to the frontloaded rate hikes during the tightening cycle, frontloading rate cuts could help in hastening transmission by providing decisive signals and confidence to the stakeholders' Ranjan said. Deputy governor Poonam Gupta agreed there was merit in frontloading rate cuts. 'I vote for a policy rate cut by 50 bps in this meeting. This should help in fostering policy certainty and faster transmission than a staggered rate cut, and in more effectively countering the challenges emanating from the global economy,' she said in her first MPC vote. The inflation outlook is 3.7% for FY26, lower than the 4% mandated target. The GDP is forecast at 6.5% for the year. In May, the headline consumer price gauge was 2.82%. Saugata Bhattacharya, who had split ranks with panel members on the quantum of the reduction, voted for a 25-bps rate cut, arguing that boosting durable liquidity would be more impactful on transmission than a steeper reduction in policy rates. 'The RBI's liquidity infusion and other measures have played a key role in this process, partly via lower money market and short-term interest rates, reducing the overall banks' cost of funds,' Bhattacharya, an external member, was cited as saying. 'The RBI data suggests that Rs 9.5 lakh crore of durable liquidity was injected into the banking system since January. In this context, I believe the RBI's assurance of continuing large durable liquidity support is likely to have a more dominant effect on further transmission compared to a deep cut in the repo rate.' The RBI's cumulative 100-bps cuts since February come amid private investment, especially in manufacturing, and urban consumption, remaining subdued. Additionally, the uncertain external environment has complicated the economic growth outlook for 2025-26, especially due to political tensions and trade war which has impacted job creation. 'A heavier-than-expected cut in policy rate (along with the possible fiscal policy support) would send a clear message that India is serious about supporting economic growth momentum and would spare no effort in terms of policy interventions,' said external member Nagesh Kumar, director and chief executive, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development. 'A double dose of rate cut is likely to bring down lending rates significantly, helping to spur the investment and consumption of durable goods.' Expectations of further rate cuts have likely delayed the materialisation of demand and investment decisions. 'In such an environment, given the market expectation of a 50-bps rate cut in this cycle, a staggered rate cut can further delay the materialisation of demand and investment decisions,' said external member Ram Singh, Director, Delhi School of Economics. 'By contrast, a front-loaded 50-bps cut in the policy rate is likely to help achieve the twin objectives of supporting demand and growth by reducing the cost of funds for borrowers'. One of the concerns raised was the interest rate differential between India policy rates and the US Fed rates, which could lead to capital flight and can put pressure on the rupee. 'However, given the robust fundamentals of the Indian economy, including a comfortable current account situation, any pressure on INR is likely to be confined to the short run,' said Singh.
