Bengaluru: The State Cabinet yesterday gave its approval for rules framed for recruitment-cum-regularisation of 11,000  Pourakarmikas (civic workers) in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and other Urban Local Bodies across the State.

Speaking to press persons after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said it was also decided that the State Government will make direct payment of salaries to the outsourced Pourakarmikas.

Pointing out that there are a total of 35,000 outsourced Pourakarmikas in the State, Jayachandra said the Government will make direct payment of their salaries, which is Rs. 17,000 per month. The salary for regularised Pourakarmikas has been fixed at Rs. 25,000 per month, he said and added that the move will cost the exchequer Rs. 426 crore per annum.

The Cabinet also ratified a decision taken by the State Government on June 6 this year to refer seven illegal mining cases including the Janthakal Enterprises case in which former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy is an accused to the Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The Cabinet gave its approval for a submission before the parliamentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice that status quo must be maintained on the functioning of Legislative Councils. The panel had sought the opinion of Karnataka along with other States on relevance of Legislative Councils.