Bengaluru, Sep 25 Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday announced that the government would soon issue an order raising civic workers’ allowances, including doubling their breakfast allowance from Rs 35 to Rs 70.
Addressing the Civic Workers’ Day celebrations here, he described civic workers as “true karma yogis” and frontline workers in the cleanliness drive.
“Civic workers are people who find God in their labour. They are true karma yogis, hardworking people and the leaders of the cleanliness revolution. An order will soon be issued to increase the allowances of civic workers and raise the breakfast allowance from Rs 35 to Rs 70,” Shivakumar said.
He urged civic workers not to feel inferior because of their occupation and said they should take pride in serving society.
“You should never feel inferior or mentally dejected. Live with self-respect, knowing that you are serving the nation. Without civic workers, we cannot remain healthy,” he said.
Shivakumar said the Congress government had regularised the services of thousands of civic workers despite pressure and assured that the remaining workers would also be regularised.
The government was also committed to providing permanent employment and a dignified life to workers in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the water supply department, he said.
Shivakumar said a Cabinet sub-committee would be constituted to examine and address the various demands of civic workers.
The sub-committee would comprise Social Welfare Minister K H Muniyappa, Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Muzrai Minister Basavanthappa, he said, adding that decisions would be taken after obtaining the Finance Department’s concurrence.
“There is no need for intermediaries from any organisation. Your issues have been brought to my notice by Ministers Balakrishna, Yathindra, Muniyappa and Basavanthappa,” he said.
The CM said the government would also focus on the welfare and health-related concerns of civic workers.
He said civic workers played a crucial role in keeping cities and towns clean and described them as “ambassadors of cleanliness”.
“Society depends on you. Your work should be seen by officials and the public as being equal to serving God,” he said.
Shivakumar said the Congress government had regularised 12,609 civic workers after coming to power in 2023 under (then) Chief CM Siddaramaiah.
He said 10,000 civic workers had been appointed during the previous Congress government in 2017 and claimed that the regularisation process had been carried out without corruption.
“We ordered a salary of Rs 40,000 for you. Around 6,000 people have been appointed in local bodies, and we have discussed making further appointments,” he said.
He added that the government had decided to provide Rs 7.5 lakh for the construction of houses for civic workers.
The government also plans to establish residential schools in urban areas on the lines of Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) for the children of civic workers, Shivakumar said.
“Our aim is for your children to study, become leaders and create new employment opportunities. We want your children to become IAS and KAS officers,” he said.
He said the government would discuss the proposal with the concerned ministers.
Shivakumar announced that a dedicated building for civic workers would be constructed and said work on the ‘Poura Bhavan’ would begin within the next two months.
He further said the government would organise Civic Workers’ Day celebrations every year.
Shivakumar said the government’s concern was not limited to providing breakfast and meals but extended to the overall welfare of civic workers.
He said many civic workers were auto-rickshaw drivers and assured them that their issues would be discussed with them in the coming week.
“D K Shivakumar and the Congress government will stand with you. Yours are not merely hands that remove garbage; they are hands that build Karnataka,” he said.
(PTI News)
