Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Jul 28: The DK District Pourakarmikas’ and Class IV Employees’ Union, Mangalore, held a protest in front of the Mangalore City Corporation, Lalbagh, urging that they be made permanent staff of the corporation, on Saturday July 27.

Nearly 125 members, mainly from the scheduled caste and tribes, have been working in the corporation as 4th grade workers, for nearly 10 to 18 years. They have been employed under the health department. At present there are 170 permanent posts vacant in the department. The memorandum addressed to chief minister Siddaramaiah, submitted via MCC Commissioner Ajith Hegde, demands that the 125 temporary employees be appointed to these vacant posts.

Speaking to the media, K Suresh, chief secretary of the union, said that, they are in service from nearly 10 to 18 years and yet have been exempted from various government aid and facilities, which permanent employees get.

“We have been fighting for this for almost a decade. Recently, we carried out a semi-naked protest in front of the DC office and also gave a memorandum to ministers U T Khadar, Ramanath Rai, Vinay Kumar Sorake, and MLA J R Lobo. We want this issue to be addressed at the earliest, failing which, further action will be taken,” he said.

“The corporations, instead of giving the job to Class IV employees, have been granting all the works under contract basis so as to keep the Class IV employees away from the scene. At present, we have been given just Rs 7,000 salary, meanwhile our duty is heavy. There are actually 500 jobs vacant on the whole, but the government is not filling them as they are focusing on the contracts,” he added.

The protest was begun by lighting the lamp and garlanding Dr B R Ambedkar’s photo. A memorandum was also submitted to MCC commissioner Ajith Hegde.

Union honorary president Shivappa, president Gangadhar, vice-president K Vasu, treasurer Nagesh, vice-secretary Sessappa, and nearly 70 members were present on the occasion.