Introduction – Tree of Brooms (Powrakarmikas), Kengeri

The Marmara of the Pourakarmikas under the leadership of Shobakka, a pourakarmika herself, began with a padayatra to and distribution of pamphlets in the neighbourhood and inviting the residents to the Marmara to listen to the plight of the pourakarmikas with whom they interact everyday.

After the padayatra, we gathered under the shade of the Gulmohar tree where Gowri and Trimurti spoke of their work and involvement with the pourakramikas thereafter Shobakka and Ramanjaneyalu shared their problems and injustices meted out to them by the contractors under whom they work and the society at large.

They spoke at length of the unfair tender system where the contractors pay them half of what is given to them under contract; of the denial of basic amenities such as drinking water, gloves and toilet facilities to them; of the particular problems that women face when mensturating;

They shared of the stigma they faced from the residents who refuse to even acknowledge and wish them; giving them water from bathroom mugs; the impressions they have and the comments the residents make on the way the pourakarmikas present themselves to work implying that they are paid well;

From a deeply personal level, they spoke of how when they collect dead carcasses they are unable to eat on that day; of the sadness they felt when they do not have the time to spend a few moments with their newly wed daughters who comes home; when their daughters are pregnant are unable to care for them emotionally and financially and finally when they have a grandchild to immerse themselves in the joyous occasion.

Ramanjaneya shared his personal and poignant story of how he had to earn money by doing manual scavenging to pay for his sons engineering studies.

Many shared their disappointment of being unable to pay for their children’s education.

Saraswati, a committed activist who has worked intensely with the pourkarmikas shared a heartrending story Bachisu which she had written and was based on the life stories and life worlds of the pourakarmikas.

The story was followed by a reflections from three of the residents who came to the Marmara

  1. they shared that they were unaware of the problems that the pourakarmikas faced till today.
  2. they felt that the pourakarmikas must be treated humanely
  3. they should be entitled to all the emoluments that a government servant is entitled to.
  4. one of the residents reflected that this gathering was an eye opener and would certainly ponder upon all that she had heard

The Marmara concluded with:

  1. that there would be many Marmaras held on the pourakarmikas and in the different localities
  2. that we would all eat together in a gesture of solidarity

 

Introduction >> 'Bachisu' the Story >> Photos of the Marmara >>

 

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