Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120151500300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Pourakarmikas call off stir

Staff Correspondent

Deputy Commissioner promises to fulfil their long-pending demands

One of the demands of the sangha was increasing wages of temporary and contract workers
Devaraja Market and surrounding areas worst affected as garbage remained uncleared

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Unhygienic: Cattle feeding on garbage near Devaraja Market in Mysore. Pourakarmikas called off their week-old indefinite agitation and resumed cleaning work on Sunday evening.

MYSORE: Members of the Mysore Nagara Palike Pourakarmikara Sangha called off their week-old indefinite agitation on Sunday following assurance given by Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan to fulfil their long-pending demands including increasing wages of temporary and contract workers.

Upset over the “lackadaisical” attitude of the Mysore City Corporation authorities in fulfilling promises made to contract and temporary workers, the sangha had launched indefinite agitation on November 24. As talks between the sangha and corporation authorities failed on Saturday, the association called upon its members to suspend cleaning work from Sunday morning.

Devaraja Market and surrounding areas were worst affected as waste vegetable and other horticultural produce dumped their remained uncleared.

With blocking of the underground drainage system, sewage started flowing on the Aane Sarotu Road.

Later, Mr. Manivannan convened a meeting of representatives of the sangha and the corporation authorities and sorted out differences between them.

President of the sangha Peddanna told The Hindu that workers resumed cleaning work from evening after the Deputy Commissioner assured them to fulfil their long-pending demands.

It may be recalled that the sangha had submitted memorandums to the Mayor, corporation Commissioner and the State Government to fulfil their demands on July 12, 2008. The issue was discussed in the council meeting on July 20 and it was resolved to pay Rs. 3,750 for contract workers. When the sangha decided to launch an agitation protesting the inordinate delay in implementing the promise, the Mayor met the office-bearers of the sangha and promised to implement the resolution from October 1. However, it was not implemented.

On October 1, the Commissioner again held a meeting with office-bearers of the sangha and assured them that their demands would be met in seven days. That too, did not materialise as the authorities refused to implement the council decision in the absence of direction from the Department of Municipal Administration.

“We are grateful to the Deputy Commissioner with whose intervention the crisis is resolved amicably,” Mr. Peddanna said.