Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath has issued a stern warning to the state government, stating he will join hands with protestors if the longstanding grievances of contract workers employed by the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) are not addressed promptly.
MLA's Ultimatum in Belagavi Session
The legislator revealed that he raised this critical issue during the recent legislature session held in Belagavi. He specifically urged the government to provide job security for hundreds of workers who have been serving on a contract basis for several years across vital MCC departments.
"I urged the govt to provide job security for many workers who have been working on a contract basis for several years in various departments such as sewage, solid waste, and drinking water within the MCC limits," Kamath stated. "Those workers should be appointed directly or made permanent employees."
Plight of the Essential Workforce
Kamath highlighted the indispensable role these workers play in maintaining urban hygiene. Many belong to the Scheduled Caste community and perform grueling tasks essential for city cleanliness. He emphasized that if this workforce were to abstain from work even for a single day, it would lead to chaos in the city's sanitation management.
A major point of concern raised is the complete absence of a pension scheme for these employees, which the MLA fears will lead to severe hardships for them in their old age. Despite repeatedly bringing this issue to the government's attention over the past two and a half years, no concrete action has been taken, he lamented.
Government Inaction and Insurance Lapse
The MLA recalled that when these contract workers staged protests twice in Mangaluru previously, their legitimate demands were forwarded to the concerned ministers and departmental secretaries. "If the govt continues to neglect this issue, we may also join them in their protest in the future," he cautioned.
In a related and serious allegation, Kamath pointed out that the government has failed to renew the insurance for garbage transport vehicles. He posed a sharp question to the authorities: "Who would be responsible if an accident occurred and harmed the workers? Does the govt lack funds for vehicle insurance?"
The situation remains tense as contract workers await government action, with their elected representative now threatening to escalate the matter through joint public demonstrations if their demands for permanency and social security are not met.
