What daily dangers do Bengaluru's pourakarmikas face?

Pourakarmikas face daily dangers handling rotting food, diapers, and dust with bare hands, risking cuts, infections, and long-term illnesses.

Why do many sanitation workers in Bengaluru lack formal protections?

Many workers operate under private contractors or in informal employment, lacking formal protections, safety gear, and timely wages.

How does the contract system affect Bengaluru's sanitation workers?

The contract system is described as exploitative, leading to delayed wages, denial of benefits, and threats of termination, with some calling it a form of bonded labor.

Home / Health / Bengaluru's Silent Struggle: Workers Face Perilous Sanitation Tasks

Bengaluru's Silent Struggle: Workers Face Perilous Sanitation Tasks

20 Feb

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Summary

Sanitation workers face daily risks sorting hazardous waste with bare hands.
Many workers lack formal employment and essential safety gear.
Exploitative contract systems deny workers fair wages and protections.

Bengaluru's Silent Struggle: Workers Face Perilous Sanitation Tasks

Every dawn in Bengaluru, pourakarmikas undertake the perilous task of sorting through the city's waste, often with bare hands. These essential workers, crucial for the functioning of India's tech hub, face daily risks from rotting food, diapers, and dust. Many operate under private contractors or in informal employment, lacking essential safety equipment and formal protections. This precarious situation highlights the dependency on a vulnerable workforce.

Workers report not receiving promised safety gear and facing health issues like persistent coughs and skin rashes. Some pourakarmikas have a life expectancy of only 50-60 years due to the hazardous nature of their work, with few seeing retirement. Additionally, many experience delayed wages, with payments pending for three to four months, and face threats of termination if they voice concerns.