BBMP has earmarked Rs 730 cr for welfare of sanitation workers: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Apr 7 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) earmarked Rs 730 crore for the welfare of pourakarmikas (sanitation workers).
Addressing a convention of pourakarmikas from city corporations, town municipalities, and other local bodies, he said, "We have announced Rs 500 crore in this budget for the salaries of pourakarmikas, Rs 107 crore for pensions, and a pension of Rs 6,000 for the family of a pourakarmika in the event of death. The total welfare outlay amounts to Rs 730 crore."
Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said Rs 5 crore has been allocated for protective gear, including shoes and gloves.
"Rs 6 crore has been allocated to reimburse education fees, Rs 4 crore for healthcare, Rs 5 crore for skill development, and Rs 10 crore for auto and taxi drivers," he said.
According to Shivakumar, a total of Rs 64 crore has been earmarked for various welfare initiatives.
He added that the Congress government is committed to bringing positive change in the lives of pourakarmikas.
Their salaries will go up to Rs 50,000 once their employment is regularised, he said.
"We are also pourakarmikas in a way, as we keep our houses clean. It’s just that you keep the cities clean while we keep our houses clean. There was a proposal to issue recruitment letters today, but it will be done by May 1 as a few matters are still pending. I have also suggested this to the Chief Minister," Shivakumar added.
The issue of drivers and loaders has also been brought up—we will look into their demands too, he said.
Shivakumar added that he would hold a separate meeting to address complaints regarding the harassment of sanitation workers by officials.
"There are reports that some officials have been harassing pourakarmikas regarding regularisation. Don’t pay anyone any money. If someone demands it, give me a written complaint. We will hold a separate meeting to resolve these issues," he said.
Highlighting that the Congress government has launched several schemes to ensure equality, he stressed the need to uphold the dignity of labour, stating that all human beings are equal.
"The Congress government has launched many schemes to ensure equality. I wish for your children to become doctors and engineers," Shivakumar said.
"During our previous term from 2013 to 2018, we launched several schemes for pourakarmikas, including sending 1,000 of them abroad. In 2017, our government appointed 10,000 pourakarmikas and built 7.5 lakh houses for them," he added.
Shivakumar also recalled that during the Covid-induced pandemic, even when family members were avoiding contact with each other, pourakarmikas continued to keep the cities clean.
Quoting 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, the Deputy Chief Minister said that one must remain clean both inwardly and outwardly.
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Galgotias accused of displaying commercial robot as own at AI Summit; clarifies after backlash
In another clip, University professor claims “developed by Galgotias”
New Delhi: A Noida-based private University, Galgotias has come under severe criticism after allegedly showcasing a china-made robotic dog at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
Social media users accused the university of purchasing a commercial robot from China and presenting it as its own creation at the summit.
Reports claimed that the university showcased the Unitree Go2 robotic dog, an AI-powered device available on Chinese platforms for Rs 2–3 lakh, under the name “Orion” during the event in New Delhi.
“So Galgotia university purchased a commercially available robot worth Rs 2.5 lakhs, called it their own and passed it off in the Delhi AI Summit as a part of their 350 crore AI ecosystem..I literally have no words left,” wrote ‘X’ user Roshan Rai, sharing a video in which a DD News reporter interviewed a university official about the robotic dog.
So Galgotia university purchased a commercially available robot worth ₹2.5 lakhs, called it their own and passed it off in the Delhi AI Summit as a part of their 350 crore AI ecosystem 😭😭
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) February 17, 2026
I literally have no words left.
pic.twitter.com/tTozvotO5m
The viral post claimed that the robot closely resembles Unitree Go2, a quadruped robotic dog developed by Chinese company Unitree Robotics.
Screenshots attached to the post compared the robot displayed at the summit with the Unitree Go2 listing, priced at roughly 2,800 dollars (around Rs 2.3–2.5 lakhs).
According Unitree Robotics, The Unitree Go2 is widely used as a programmable quadruped robot for research, education, inspection, and development purposes, and is a common learning platform in universities and robotics labs worldwide.
Several users reiterated the claim.
🚨 Galgotias University again.
— Mr Sharma (@sharma_views) February 17, 2026
Showcased a commercially available $2,800 robot as an “AI breakthrough.”
No evidence of ₹350 crore original R&D.
This is how credibility erodes.
STOP EMBARRASSING INDIA ON THE WORLD STAGE. pic.twitter.com/SyJyIntRLa
This is Unitree Go2, an AI-powered Chinese robo dog that you can buy from Chinese websites for ₹2–3 lakh.
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) February 17, 2026
Galgotias University, Gr Noida, presented it as their multi-crore AI innovation by naming it Orion at the AI Summit. Even Ashwini Vaishnaw, the concerned minister, used… pic.twitter.com/0ZoIAJCors
Government of India funds for filing patents
Meanwhile, concerns were raised about alleged misuse of government funds.
User @sky_phd highlighted, “Galgotias University is once again in the spotlight. Under the guise of research and innovation, they are raking in plenty of money.”
The user claimed that the university took money under government funds, and wrote, “The Government of India provides incentive funding of up to five lakh rupees for filing patents.”
“To understand the patent filing process and the games being played with it, take a look at the list of top Indian institutions filing patents. All the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) together file only 803 patents, while institutions like Lovely Professional University, Jain Deemed-to-be University, Galgotias University, and Teerthanker Mahaveer University have filed more than a thousand patents each,” the user wrote, sharing a chart of patent filings by these universities.
“The basic international patent filing fee is $285–400. Through patent filings alone, these institutions are reportedly earning more than fifty crore rupees annually. However, while these universities file patents, they often do not pursue them further, and most patents ultimately do not get granted. This inflates filing numbers but does not reflect real innovation or recognized intellectual property,” the user added.
Galgotias University एक बार फिर चर्चा में है। रिसर्च और इनोवेशन के नाम पर खूब पैसा बना रहे है। भारत सरकार पेटेंट फाइल करने के लिए पाँच लाख रुपये तक की प्रोत्साहन राशि देती है।
— Santosh Yadav, Ph.D. (@sky_phd) February 17, 2026
पेटेंट फाइलिंग की प्रक्रिया और इसके खेल को समझने के लिए टॉप पेटेंट फाइल करने वाले भारतीय संस्थानों की… pic.twitter.com/6gv6HzwM1l
Another user pointed out about the selection criteria of the summit. The user questioned, “What exactly was the selection criteria for participation in this AI summit? .”
“Platforms meant to showcase India’s innovation should represent genuine research, original ideas, and credible institutions. So how did Galgotias University qualify to display a Chinese-made robot and present it as its own “innovation”? If true, this isn’t just embarrassing, it undermines the credibility of the entire summit and of India’s growing tech ecosystem. At a time when India is trying to position itself as a global AI and deep-tech leader, showcasing repackaged imports as indigenous innovation only damages trust. If we want the world to take India’s AI ambitions seriously, transparency and authenticity must come first,” the user added.
Serious question: What exactly was the selection criteria for participation in this AI summit?
— Adarsh (@OpinionKraft) February 17, 2026
Platforms meant to showcase India’s innovation should represent genuine research, original ideas, and credible institutions.
So how did Galgotias University qualify to display a… pic.twitter.com/WJRAgXTMf6
University clarifies after backlash
In response to the criticism, Galgotias University issued a clarification, stating that it “never claimed to have built the device” and that the robot was procured from a Chinese manufacturer for academic purposes.
“Let us be clear, Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to do so. What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies in Bharat," the university said.
The university in its statement also pointed out that the Unitree Go2 is being used as a learning tool for students.
“From the US to China and Singapore, we bring advanced technologies to campus because exposure creates vision, and vision creates creators. The robodog is actively being used by students to test capabilities and explore real-world applications,” the university added.
— Galgotias University (@GalgotiasGU) February 17, 2026
University professor claims “it's developed by the Center of Excellence at the Galgotias University.”
In another video captured by DD News, a reporter showcased the Galgotias University pavilion at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
At the pavilion, the reporter spoke with the university professor about the technology on display.
The professor introduced the robot, saying, “This is Orion. You need to meet Orion. It has been developed by the Center of Excellence at Galgotias University.”
She added, “I would also like to brief you about Galgotias University. We are the first private university investing more than Rs 350 crore in artificial intelligence and have a dedicated data science and AI lab on campus.”
“Orion has been developed by our Center of Excellence. It can take all shapes and sizes and is quite playful. It can perform small tasks such as surveillance and monitoring. It can even execute movements like moonwalks and somersaults,” she explained.
She also claimed that, “This is India’s first iOS lab in North India at a university, giving our students hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.”
Have some shame, in this video ur Professor is clearly saying that it's developed by Galgotias University. pic.twitter.com/xt5MkL8KEN
— Aniruddh Sharma (@AniruddhINC) February 17, 2026
Reacting to the video social media users ridiculed the 350 cr rupees investment compared to the china made robo dog.
Past Controversies of the University
This is not the first time the university is in controversy. In May 2024, during the Lok Sabha elections, a video went viral showing students protesting outside the Congress headquarters in New Delhi against the party’s manifesto. The footage, captured by Aaj Tak, showed students struggling to articulate the purpose of their protest, raising questions about the demonstration’s intent.
Students of Galgotias University are holding a protest against Congress , failing to answer the reason behind it #getstrolled #GalgotiyaUniversity #protests #trolled
— the swipe (@theswipenews_) May 2, 2024
Credits - Aaj Tak pic.twitter.com/xo87HLvngL
Earlier, in 2017, students protested against the university management after being barred from appearing in exams due to low attendance, with allegations that fines were requested to allow attendance, a claim denied by the administration.
