Unions congratulate Powrakarmikas as State government agrees to their demand after four days strike
Bengaluru: The BBMP Powrakarmika Sangha and Karnataka Pragatipara Powrakarmikara Sangha on Monday congratulated all powrakarmikas who were on strike for four consecutive days, after which the state government agreed to their demands for permanent jobs and other benefits.
“The powrakarmikas across 31 districts in Karnataka relentlessly fought for their demands over the past four days, whereas thousands of workers gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. The powrakarmikas who have been working in undignified working conditions, and are treated with disrespect fought for their rights and have emerged victorious today” an official press statement stated.
The Karnataka Government has agreed to make their jobs permanent after setting up a committee that will include representatives of powrakarmika unions, which will come up with the appointment rules. The committee will also look into the implementation of ‘equal pay for equal work’ for the workers. In pursuance of this, the legislative assembly will propose a special law in the upcoming assembly session.
“While auto drivers, helpers, and loaders will be brought under the direct-payment system in all other districts of Karnataka in a phased manner, those in BBMP will continue to remain under the exploitative sham contract system. Our Union will continue to fight against illegal and exploitative contract system and will continue to strive towards ensuring rights and dignity for all” the release further added.
The government has also agreed to implement the IPD Salappa report in terms of the population to workers ratio, as also provide scholarships for children of powrakarmikas, and implement a housing scheme, and maternity benefits, among other service benefits.
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K'taka bypolls: Bagalkot records 43.75 per cent turnout till 1 pm, 37.17 pc in Davanagere South
Bengaluru (PTI): At least 43.75 per cent of voters in Karnataka's Bagalkot, where polling for a by-election is underway, exercised their franchise by 1 pm on Thursday.
Davanagere South recorded a turnout of 37.17 per cent, the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office said.
The bypolls were necessitated due to the demise of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).
While the ruling Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP is aiming to wrest them and deliver a setback to its rival, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
A total of over 2.59 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes at around 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates are in the fray.
In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh eligible voters are expected to vote across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.
The BJP has fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.
The Congress has given tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Bagalkot candidate Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun from Davanagere South is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Samarth's father, S S Mallikarjun, is a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet and in charge of Davanagere district, while his mother, Prabha Mallikarjun, is a Member of Parliament from the region.
The BJP is looking to make gains in the bypolls and energise its cadre ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. For the Congress, retaining both seats is crucial, as a loss could be seen as a negative verdict on the performance of the Siddaramaiah-led government.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, H Y Meti defeated BJP's Charantimath by a margin of 5,878 votes in Bagalkot, while Shivashankarappa defeated BJP's B G Ajay Kumar by 27,888 votes in Davanagere South.
