"We Are Also Humans": Bangalore's Pourakarmikaras Demand Masks, Gloves And More

Bangalore’s pourakarmikaras are the people who have been handling the medical waste of people that were self-isolating at home. Despite repeatedly asking for it, the women said that they have not been provided with masks or gloves since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Despite being frontline workers that ensure sanitation, pourakarmikaras claimed that they have not been provided with transport facilities to travel to their mustering centre. Members of the Pourakarmikara Sangha protested their dire conditions and the neglect they face from the government and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The BBMP is the administrative body that is responsible for civic amenities in Bangalore.

The members of the Pourakarmikara Sangha chanted “inquilab zindabad” on the roads. One member named Ratna said that “We are working in these times without facilities. We are also humans, just like you”.

3/3 Every day, workers go to their mustering centre and keep our city clean. But without toilet facilities, soap, water, or sanitiser, powrakarmikas' lives are put in danger each day by the utter neglect of the government and the BBMP.

Inquilab Zindabad! pic.twitter.com/dSnM80fKtC

— AICCTU Karnataka (@aicctukar) April 28, 2021

In July 2020, pourakarmikaras protested after the BBMP allegedly did not ensure PPE kits, drinking water, and the sanitisation of work equipment for them. The pourakarmikaras claimed that the BBMP had not started thermal testing and was not arranging institutional quarantine facilities.

President of the BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha Nirmala said that they had not been provided with PPE kits. She added that while masks and gloves were provided, they had only been provided four times since the pandemic began. After that, the pourakarmikaras began using their own masks. The mustering centre does not have toilet facilities, soap, water, or sanitisers, the women said.

Maitreyi Krishna, a member of BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha said that none of their concerns had been addressed, even after they repeatedly wrote to the BBMP. Narayanamma, another pourakarmikara said that “What will we do if we take the infection to our children? We pick up used masks and gloves every day with our hands. Who will pay the medical bills?”

The number of COVID-19 cases in Bangalore peaked at over 20,000. By April 28, the number of active cases in Karnataka reached 32,888. Bangalore recorded the highest spike of 22,596 cases in a single day.