Bengaluru Waste Collectors Unpaid for Four Months Amid Minister's Absenteeism Remark
Bengaluru's waste collectors have not been paid for four months, even as a minister's absenteeism remark sparks outrage among workers.
A large number of waste collectors in Bengaluru have not received their salaries for the past four months, leaving many workers in financial distress. The payment delay comes at a time when the city's sanitation workforce is already facing heightened scrutiny over attendance issues.
Recently, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda drew attention to absenteeism among pourakarmikas, the municipal workers responsible for sweeping streets. His remarks have provoked strong reactions from both pourakarmikas and waste collectors, who have collectively demanded an apology from the minister.
Workers argue that the criticism overlooks the systemic problems they face, including irregular wage disbursement. The combination of unpaid wages and public criticism has deepened the sense of grievance among sanitation staff, who play a critical role in keeping the city clean.
The development highlights the ongoing challenges in Bengaluru's solid waste management system, where contractual and daily-wage workers often bear the brunt of administrative delays and policy gaps.