Statewide Shutdown: Hundreds of Palike employees protest in Bengaluru | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: Garbage was not collected and roads were not swept clean Tuesday across Bengaluru and other parts of the state as over 3,000 municipal corporation employees assembled at Freedon Park to press for their long-pending demands. The agitation, organised by BBMP Officers’ and Employees’ Welfare Association and Karnataka State Federation of Municipal Corporation Employees, saw participation of civic workers, engineers, health staff, revenue officers, and IT personnel from 10 municipal corporations, including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Davangere, Belagavi, Ballari and Kalaburagi.Employees demanded withdrawal of biometric attendance system, arguing it is impractical for non-executive staff such as gardeners, gangmen and Group D workers. BBMP chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao, who met the protestors, promised that vacant posts would be filled soon and other demands would be looked into.Truck owners call off strikeThe indefinite strike planned by truck owners across Karnataka from Tuesday was called off after the govt approved an additional Rs 244 crore under Anna Bhagya scheme to cover pending transportation and margin costs. “We withdraw the strike and thank the govt for responding to our concerns,” said GR Shanmukhappa, president of State Lorry Owners’ Association.Truckers had threatened to halt movement of essential commodities, including foodgrains to ration shops, over unpaid dues linked to implementation of the free rice scheme.
