Karnataka to double civic workers' breakfast allowance, expand welfare

The Karnataka government will soon issue an order to increase allowances for civic workers, including doubling the breakfast allowance from Rs 35 to Rs 70, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Friday. He also announced a series of welfare measures, including steps on regularisation, housing, education and health for civic workers.

Shivakumar said a Cabinet subcommittee would be set up to look into the workers' demands, a dedicated building for civic workers would be taken up within two months, and Civic Workers' Day would be observed every year. He said the government wanted to ensure permanent employment and a dignified life for civic workers and related staff.

Addressing Civic Workers' Day celebrations in Bengaluru, Shivakumar described civic workers as "true karma yogis" and frontline workers in the cleanliness drive.

"Civic workers are people who find God in their labour. They are true karma yogis, hardworking people and the leaders of the cleanliness revolution. An order will soon be issued to increase the allowances of civic workers and raise the breakfast allowance from Rs 35 to Rs 70," he said.

He urged civic workers not to feel inferior because of their occupation and asked them to take pride in serving society. "You should never feel inferior or mentally dejected. Live with self-respect, knowing that you are serving the nation. Without civic workers, we cannot remain healthy," he said.

Shivakumar said the Congress government had regularised the services of thousands of civic workers despite pressure and assured that the remaining workers would also be regularised.

He said the government was also committed to providing permanent employment and a dignified life to workers in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the water supply department.

He said a Cabinet sub-committee would be formed to examine and address the workers' demands. The panel will include Social Welfare Minister KH Muniyappa, Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Muzrai Minister Basavanthappa, and decisions would be taken after getting the Finance Department's approval.

"There is no need for intermediaries from any organisation. Your issues have been brought to my notice by Ministers Balakrishna, Yathindra, Muniyappa and Basavanthappa," he said.

The Chief Minister said the government would also focus on the welfare and health concerns of civic workers. Calling them "ambassadors of cleanliness", he said they played a crucial role in keeping cities and towns clean.

"Society depends on you. Your work should be seen by officials and the public as being equal to serving God," he said.

Shivakumar said the Congress government had regularised 12,609 civic workers after coming to power in 2023 under Siddaramaiah. He said 10,000 civic workers had been appointed during the previous Congress government in 2017 and claimed that the regularisation process had been carried out without corruption.

"We ordered a salary of Rs 40,000 for you. Around 6,000 people have been appointed in local bodies, and we have discussed making further appointments," he said.

He said the government had decided to provide Rs 7.5 lakh for the construction of houses for civic workers. It also plans to set up residential schools in urban areas on the lines of Karnataka Public Schools for their children.

"Our aim is for your children to study, become leaders and create new employment opportunities. We want your children to become IAS and KAS officers," he said, adding that the proposal would be discussed with the ministers concerned.

Shivakumar also announced that a dedicated building for civic workers would be constructed and said work on the Poura Bhavan would begin within the next two months.

He said the government's concern was not limited to providing breakfast and meals, but extended to the overall welfare of civic workers.

He added that many civic workers were auto-rickshaw drivers and said their issues would be discussed with them next week. "DK Shivakumar and the Congress government will stand with you. Yours are not merely hands that remove garbage; they are hands that build Karnataka," he said.

In sum, Shivakumar said the government would move ahead on higher allowances, regularisation, housing, education, health support and a dedicated civic workers' building, while also holding Civic Workers' Day celebrations every year.