Watch: Sweepers Stand up Against Sexual Harassment in Bengaluru

The sweepers of B’luru have been raising their voice against the sexual harassment meted out by BBMP contractors.

The city sweepers were subjected to sexual harassment by the contractors of the local civic body. 

(Photo: Roshni Balaji/The Quint)

They keep the city’s streets clean, but instead of receiving wages, they received  abuses, attacks and even sexual assaults. Bengaluru's city sweepers, known as pourakarmikas, have been resisting the harassment inflicted by civic body contractors. The inhuman treatment meted out to them has forced them to hit the streets in protest.

The pourakarmikas, who are contract employees allege that they have not been paid wages for months. The contractors have been using abuse as a tool to deter these pourakarmikas. On 12 October, they threatened to rape a pourakarmika for merely demanding her salary.

The city sweepers also known as pourakarmikas have been demanding a safe environment to work.(Photo: Roshni Balaji/The Quint)

Anjanamma, a pourakarmika working at the Chokkasandra ward in Bengaluru, narrated an incident that took place on 12 October where a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor had threatened to rape her colleague.

A woman was made to remove her pant and was beaten up when she asked for her salary. He told her that he would rape her in the middle of the road. Nagesh, is the man behind all this, but the police haven’t arrested him yet.

Anjanamma, pourakarmika

Despite the civic workers filing a complaint at the KR Puram police station, no action was taken against the contractor. The city sweepers had also registered a case with the BBMP Sexual Harassment Committee and the Karnataka Social Welfare Department.

Pourakarmikas at work near Daasarahalli in west Bengaluru.(Photo: Roshni Balaji/The Quint)

Another incident of sexual harassment was reported earlier in April this year where the contractor had assaulted two pourakarmikas at the Chokkasandra ward in west Bengaluru causing serious injury to them. Nagavani, a city sweeper who was witness to this, expressed her concern over the incident.

I wish for a safe environment for all of us to work. We are sick and tired of being at the receiving end of physical and verbal abuse at the hands of the contractors.

Nagavani, pourakarmika

Despite all the hardships, the pourakarmikas continue to stand up for their rights by launching a demonstration against the inaction of authorities with regard to the sexual assault cases. Their demands included immediate payment of pending wages and legal action against the guilty contractors. However, neither of their demands have been fulfilled yet.

Also Read: Boss Allegedly Threatens Women With Rape for Asking for Their Dues