MCC Pourakarmikas end stir following CM’s assurance

Mysuru:  The MCC Pourakarmikas have called-off their indefinite stir launched on Oct.3 seeking fulfilment of their various demands, following an assurance from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy that he would personally look into their demands.

Kumaraswamy, who met the representatives of the protesting Pourakarmikas, in Bengaluru on Tuesday, assured to meet their demands, following which the civic workers announced an end to their seven-day stir which began on Oct.3.

The CM conveyed to Pourakarmika leaders led by Karnataka Rajya Nagarapalike, Nagarasabhe, Purasabhe Pourakarmika Maha Sangha State President Narayan, who is also the former city Mayor, that he would meet their demands — which chiefly included regularisation of services, an end to the contractual system of employment and statutory benefits, among others.

Following assurances by the CM, the protesting Pourakarmikas agreed to resume work from Wednesday morning, in time for the inauguration of the 10-day Dasara celebrations.

In the hour-long meeting, which was also attended by Dy.CM Dr. G. Parameshwara and a few Ministers including D.K. Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy instructed the personnel Department Secretary to address the woes of Pourakarmikas and table the issue at the next Cabinet meeting.

Enthused by the CM’s response, the Pourakarmika Maha Sangha President Narayan promised MCC Commissioner K.H. Jagadeesha, who took part in the meeting, that the civic workers would return to their jobs on Wednesday.

MCC Commissioner K.H. Jagadeesha said that the meeting proceeded well and the Pourakarmika leader Narayan expressed his happiness at the outcome of the meeting with the Chief Minister.

With the CM’s positive response to their demands, the Pourakarmikas agreed to resume their duties from Wednesday, he said.

The civic workers launched their indefinite stir on Oct.3, after the District Administration and the Government failed to address their demands submitted on Sept.19 of the 2,500 plus workers under the MCC, a mere 650 are permanent, while the remaining civic workers are employed on a contractual basis by outsourced private agencies.

With the Pourakarmikas launching an indefinite stir, the city turned into a striking city  with heaps of garbage and wastes piling up along the roads and vacant spaces. The situation improved slightly when regular Pourakarmikas returned to work on Sunday.