Pourakarmikas and Anganwadi staff have little relief from the warmth

Many people in the city have been forced to spend their afternoons inside due to the intense heat, yet 15,000 pourakarmikas and about 3,000 Anganwadi workers must prepare for the heatwave since government representatives are not listening to their pleas. Every day, on average, six employees file complaints with the union about headaches, fatigue, and dehydration.

The government must immediately declare half-days for workers with a week off, without any pay deductions, and ensure a regular supply of drinking water, ORS, and buttermilk, according to a letter sent by the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) to the Department of Urban Development, Department of Municipal Administration, and Department of Social Welfare. Additional requests include giving pourakarmikas eye shade, hats or caps, umbrellas, and other essentials so they can labor in the afternoons without being too hot.

The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority has issued an advise, which the AICCTU emphasized, urging people to remain inside during periods of excessive heat and to sometimes drink water. Additionally, the KSDMA circular advises individuals to dress in light-colored cotton clothing. Pourakarmikas, however, are disadvantageous because of their dense orange and green uniform.”

Nirmala M, the head of the union, told TNIE, “We work from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our plea for permission to work until 11 a.m. was denied by the government, but we never heard back. I get six calls a day on average from employees complaining of headaches, lethargy, giddiness, and dehydration.

She continued by saying that women make up 90% of the workforce and that they struggle with heat exhaustion.

Similarly, the predicament faced by Anganwadi personnel is that they are forced to work full-time hours even if it is summer and there aren’t many regular children visiting the center.

“Work hours were cut by two hours, but the centers’ infrastructure cannot withstand the heat.” Sheets of tin and metal around them, trapping additional heat. The fans aren’t in excellent shape even with power. According to S Varalakshmi, president of the Karnataka State Aganwadi Workers’ Association, “even toilets don’t have enough water.”