Kochi: Workers left in lurch as agencies fight

Kochi: The famed tourist spot of Fort Kochi beach looks cleaner these days thanks to 10 Kudumbashree workers entrusted with the cleaning job along with the heritage department staff.

However, they are underpaid, with just Rs 200 for a day’s work from 7 am to 12 pm.  Both the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and the Kudumbashree are not ready to take up their complaints, and they blame each other for the situation.

“Our role was just to provide the cleaning staff since the collector had asked us and now it is the responsibility of the DTPC to look after them,” said Tanny Thomas, the district coordinator, Kudumbashree.

“They are not our staff, and their wages could be hiked only if an order comes from Kudumbashree. However, we’re ready to provide basic cleaning equipment if they are not having the same,” said Shivan P. J., joint director, DTPC Ernakulam.

The workers say there is no response from any of the agencies despite lodging complaints several times. “We’re working here for the last 12 years, and our wages have increased only from Rs 100 to Rs 200, but this is not sufficient to meet our daily needs. Even the salary reaches in our account by the end of the month, and many of us, who have to pay the rent, face a difficulty," said a worker on the condition of anonymity.

"The nearby homestay facilities are giving Rs 100 for an hour’s work to the cleaning staff, where most of us go to make our lives stable. Also, we don’t have enough cleaning equipment for carrying out the job. Often we are forced to clean and remove waste and weeds with our bare hands.”