Latest news with #DirectPaymentSystem
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BBMP to bear cost of seva sindhu certificates for Pourakarmika candidates
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Thursday announced that it will cover the expenses incurred in obtaining necessary certificates through the Seva Sindhu portal for pourakarmika (civic workers) candidates selected under the Direct Payment System (DPS) in the Solid Waste Management (SWM) department. As per the roster and reservation rules, the final selection list of 12,692 pourakarmika candidates was published on November 16, 2024. BBMP in a release said that to verify the authenticity of the selected candidates, reports will be procured from the respective Deputy Commissioners. Candidates have already submitted applications through the Seva Sindhu portal. Candidates are required to upload supporting documents such as Certificate-1, Certificate-2, and other relevant records on the portal. The BBMP Commissioner has decided that the civic body will bear the cost involved in preparing these mandatory certificates. Special Commissioner of the Administration Department and Member Secretary of the Pourakarmika Selection Committee, Avinash Menon Rajendran, has appealed to the selected candidates not to fall prey to any illegal demands or middlemen and to ensure the uploading of documents is carried out in a transparent and timely manner.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pourakarmikas: With permanent job, it feels like Bengaluru's finally noticing us
Bengaluru: There was a spring in the steps of thousands of pourakarmikas, who stepped onto Bengaluru's streets for their morning cleaning routine on Friday, a day after the state govt made 12,692 of nearly 16,500 pourakarmika jobs permanent. Mytri K, spokesperson, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICTU), which spearheaded the fight to get pourakarmikas the status of a permanent job, said, "This isn't just a work order, it's a step toward correcting a historical injustice. Pourakarmikas, mostly women from dalit communities, endured decades of exploitation, threats, and back-breaking labour under contractors. This victory belongs to their relentless courage to organise, protest, and demand what was always rightfully theirs. But the fight isn't over — real change means their children don't return to this caste-ordained occupation. Dignity, housing, education, and secure employment must follow. Only then will justice be complete." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Pourakarmikas said permanent jobs would mean they will be able to fulfil some basic needs, like supporting their children's education. They say the long-overdue recognition of their dignity will end all uncertainties and humiliations they endured battling middlemen under the earlier Direct Payment System. TOI spoke to a few regularised pourakarmikas and understood what the change in their tenure means to them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Krishna H, 28 Our entire family moved from Ballari to Bengaluru for work. My dad started working as a pourakarmika 20 years ago, and I have been a pourakarmika for 10 years now. I started with a Rs 3,000 salary. The main thing is job security we will now have. Being a single breadwinner for the family, that is all I wanted. We fought a lot for this, and a lot of people stood by us, and finally, a big win for thousands of pourakarmikas working all seven days. Basappa, 44 This is the best thing to happen in my life. Almost 17 years of hard work to keep this city clean paid off today. We were working on a contract for years, and in 2016, we were put under the Direct Payment System. Now, we are getting Rs 19,000, and we have been told we will now get more than Rs 35,000. We are happy we will get some benefits to lead our lives with dignity. This job has always been difficult, but now it feels like the city is finally seeing us. Lalithamma, 34, I have three daughters and a son to take care of. My husband is also a pourakarmika. Financially, we were not very strong, and now with this update in our jobs, we are hopeful to give better education and life to our kids. We are very happy all the hard work put in for almost 15 years is finally bearing fruit, and our dignity is being upheld. I started work with about Rs 3,000, and now I will get more than Rs 30,000. It is a welcome change for us. We are thankful to all those who helped us achieve this.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Services of 12,692 pourakarmikas in Bengaluru to be regularised from May 1
Nagalakshmi, 38, has been working as a pourakarmika, sweeping the city's streets for nearly 20 years now. She started under the contractors and was paid a meagre sum of ₹1,000 a month for the back-breaking work. She is one of the 12,692 pourakarmikas whose services will be regularised by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on May 1. 'Working under the contractors was a very bad phase. Not only was the pay less, but there was also harassment we had to brave. We found relief in 2016 when we were brought under the Direct Payment System (DPS). We presently get around ₹18,000 take-home salary apart from several other benefits. Now, with our services being regularised, our salaries are expected to almost double. Naturally, we are overjoyed and we feel our work is finally being recognised,' she said. Depending on seniority and pay scale, pourakarmikas will get salaries on par with other D group employees of the civic body. Considering the 7th pay commission, on an average, they are expected to get around ₹35,000, a senior BBMP officer said. Currently, there are 15,400 pourakarmikas being paid through DPS. Of them, only 12,692 are being regularised, keeping 2,708 still under DPS. BBMP has adopted a criteria that 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. Most of those left out are above 55 years of age, sources said. 'Regularising the services of these pourakarmikas has been our long-standing demand, and we also urge that the services of other pourakarmikas who have been working on DPS mode in other corporations across the State should also be regularised,' said Maitreyi Krishnan of BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha. Long struggle This is a result of a long fight that started in 2013, said Clifton D'Rosario of BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha. 'Following recommendations of the Chandrashekhar Committee Report formed in 2013 and our struggle demanding its implementation in full, the then Congress government made a Cabinet decision to regularise services of all pourakarmikas in 2016. That decision is being partly implemented now,' he said. Both sweepers and waste collectors were working under contractors till 2016, amidst allegations of double billing and misappropriation of funds. BBMP introduced biometric authentication of all pourakarmikas, which brought down the numbers from the claim of 32,000 to around 18,000. Contrary to the cabinet decision, these sweepers were brought under a DPS and given minimum wages, a hardship allowance, and other facilities like EPF, gratuity and health insurance. 'As we continued the struggle for regularisation of their services, and to bring waste collectors also on the rolls, the BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai formed a committee under (IAS officer) Rakesh Singh to formulate modalities to regularise their services. Even as that committee did not submit its report, the government announced regularising services of only 4000 odd workers, which was vehemently opposed. Siddaramaiah, who was leader of opposition, assured us that if Congress came to power, they would regularise the services of all pourakarmikas. So after Congress returned to power we restarted our struggle to reach some success now,' Mr. D'Rosario recounted.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- The Hindu
Bengaluru: 50-year-old pourakarmika on her way to work dies after being run over by lorry
A 50-year-old pourakarmika, who was trying to cross West of Chord Road in Vijaynagar to attend work, was knocked down by a speeding truck on Tuesday (April 29, 2025) early morning. The deceased, Saroja, was working in Ward number 107, Shivanagar, on a Direct Payment System (DPS) with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). She was supposed to be made a permanent employee of the civic body on Thursday. According to the police, the incident occurred around 6.30 a.m. when Saroja was on her way to the ward office to report to work. While she was trying to cross the busy West of Chord Road at Dhobi Ghat Signal, a lorry that was waiting at the traffic signal suddenly moved ahead, knocking her down. She came under the front left wheel of the vehicle. Though she was immediately rushed to Victoria Hospital with severe head injuries, where doctors declared her 'brought dead.' The lorry driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Vijaynagar Traffic Police have seized the lorry and registered a case of death due to negligence against the driver, who has been identified through the vehicle owner. Efforts are on to track him down. BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar condoled her death and said the deceased was known to be a dedicated worker. Adding to the tragedy was the fact that she was killed just two days ahead of her being made a permanent employee of the civic body, a longstanding demand of pourakarmikas, he said in a social media post. BBMP Special Commissioner (Welfare) Surlkar Vikas Kishor, talking to The Hindu, said the civic body will be providing ₹10 lakh compensation to the kin of the victim. The civic worker is also insured, and separate compensation will be given as per the insurance policy, he added.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- The Hindu
50-year-old Bengaluru pourakarmika killed by a speeding truck on her way to work
A 50-year-old pourakarmika, who was trying to cross West of Chord Road in Vijaynagar to attend work, was knocked down by a speeding truck on Tuesday (April 29, 2025) early morning. The deceased, Saroja, was working in Ward number 107 Shivanagar on a Direct Payment System (DPS) with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). She was supposed to be made a permanent employee of the civic body on Thursday (May 1, 2025). At around 6.30 a.m., Saroja was on her way to the ward office to report to work. While she was trying to cross the busy West of Chord Road at Dhobi Ghat Signal, a truck that was waiting at the traffic signal suddenly started and moved ahead, knocking her down. She came under the front left wheel of the truck, which led to severe head injuries. Though she was immediately rushed to Victoria Hospital, doctors there declared her 'brought dead.' The truck driver abandoned the vehicle and fled from the scene. Vijaynagar Traffic Police have seized the truck and registered a case of causing death due to negligence against the unidentified driver. Efforts are on to track him down. Local BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar condoled her death, and said the deceased was known to be a dedicated worker. Adding to the tragedy was the fact that she was killed just two days ahead of being made a permanent employee of the civic body, a longstanding demand of pourakarmikas, he said in a social media post.
