Thu Jun 26 14:35:46 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Karmika Samrakshana Trade Union, representing over 15,000 garbage collectors in Karnataka, India, is planning a “Delhi Chalo” rally on July 25th. This action stems from the Congress government allegedly reneging on its promise to bring garbage collectors under the Direct Payment System (DPS), a move intended to eliminate contractor exploitation. Despite promises made earlier in the year, the government called for garbage collection and transportation tenders, effectively keeping the workers under the contractor system for the next seven years. The decision faces legal challenges and opposition from contractors and some bureaucrats, leaving the union feeling betrayed and seeking intervention from national Congress leaders.
**News Article:**
**Karnataka Garbage Collectors Plan Delhi Rally Over Broken Promise**
**Bengaluru, June 26, 2025** – Thousands of garbage collectors represented by the Karmika Samrakshana Trade Union are preparing to march to Delhi on July 25th in protest of the Karnataka Congress government’s failure to implement a promised Direct Payment System (DPS). The union claims the government broke a key election promise to free workers from exploitation under contractor systems.
Tyagaraj, president of the union, stated that Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, are being held accountable for the unfulfilled promise. The union asserts that the Congress government, after initially promising to bring garbage collectors under DPS, has now called for tenders for garbage collection and transportation contracts for the next seven years, effectively trapping workers under contractors for the long term.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah previously pledged to implement DPS during an event in May. However, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s subsequent announcement of the tender process has sparked outrage and prompted legal challenges.
Sources indicate strong opposition from contractors and sections within the bureaucracy, citing concerns over infrastructure, vehicle availability, and the lack of a reliable database for bringing workers under the civic body’s payroll.
“In the absence of any directions to bring garbage collectors under DPS, we are continuing with the contract system,” a senior civic official confirmed.
The “Delhi Chalo” rally aims to pressure the national Congress leadership to intervene and ensure the Karnataka government fulfills its promise to protect garbage collectors and implement the Direct Payment System.
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