Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 3: At the meeting held by the president of Federation of State Pourkarmikas Associations, it was revealed that contractors who take garbage disposal work on contract have cheated the civic workers of legitimate EPF and ESI contributions.

Narayana, president of Federation of State Pourakarmika Associations, said that contractors executing garbage disposal work and drainage work in local administrations in towns like Mulky, Bantwal, Moodbidri, Karkala, etc have been employing one third of the number of civic workers required for work, and then also collect from them EPF and ESI contributions which need to be contributed by the contractors themselves.

He was speaking after holding a consultative meeting of civic workers at the office of the district deputy commissioner here on Friday January 2. He asked the officials of the local bodies to take action on this front within 15 days failing which they will be acted against. He noted that although manual cleaning of underground drainage, He said that the process of regularizing of employment of 35,000 civic workers in the state, who are presently working on contract basis, is being begun shortly.

He said that the state government has been asked to set aside funds for the welfare of Pourakarmikas. He also added that steps are being taken to enforce the Supreme Court order to pay compensation of Rs 10 lacs to the families of Pourakarmikas who die during duty hours.