Bengaluru: The scorching heat this summer has made life extremely difficult for the city's sanitation workers. A significant portion of these workers are women, and they claim that the administration fails to provide adequate rest or refreshment facilities.
Union Demands Immediate Action
Seeking immediate action, the BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha on Monday submitted a letter to the chief commissioner of the Central City Corporation, Rajendra Cholan. The letter states that women pourakarmikas are working under scorching heat conditions from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm, often seven days a week without rest, and are denied national and festival holidays.
The union highlighted that outdoor workers have no access to rest shelters, posing serious risks to their health. They demanded that civic authorities provide half-day work waivers. Additionally, they sought refreshment beverages, clean drinking water, oral rehydration salts, and buttermilk daily, along with essentials such as eyeshades, caps, umbrellas, and protective gear.
"Restrooms are not available in most places. These complications seriously affect workers' health and weaken them," said Nirmala M, president of the union.
Although the grievance was addressed to the Central City Corporation, pourakarmikas say the situation is similar across all parts of the city. "Similar letters will be submitted to chief commissioners of all city corporations," they added.
What Other Cities Have Done
In Hyderabad, local police have installed mist fans, especially for traffic police who regulate thousands of vehicles in scorching heat. The pilot program, set up at important junctions, sprays mist in the air around where traffic personnel stand.
In Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation has put up green canopies for shade at about 40 junctions and landmarks across the city. These provide shade to motorists, vendors, and gig workers. The city also has an air-conditioned lounge for those who work outdoors. The lounge, equipped with Wi-Fi and drinking water facility, can accommodate up to 25 people at a time.
In New Delhi, the state government has started to install cold water dispensers in state-run DTC buses, allowing commuters to access it for free. The government has also ordered outdoor work to halt between 12 pm and 3 pm when the mercury is at its peak.
