Who cleans Bengaluru? Pourakarmikas, caste and the politics of dignity
type
Op-ed
source publication
The News Minute
Abstract
"Who cleans Bengaluru? Pourakarmikas, caste and the politics of dignity" critiques the systemic exploitation of Bengaluru's sanitation workers, highlighting how a nexus of contractors, officials, and politicians profits at their expense. Prompted by a viral video of a government minister reprimanding workers seeking employment regularisation, the authors argue that demanding "duty" before granting basic labor rights reflects a deep-seated, feudal caste bias. Tracing this "duty-based" framework from ancient texts to contemporary labor policies, the text calls for a radical shift back to a rights-based constitutional approach that prioritizes worker dignity, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
Year
9-10-2026
Recommended Citation
Singh, Ashna and Rozario, Clifton D’, "Who cleans Bengaluru? Pourakarmikas, caste and the politics of dignity" (2026). Popular Media. 248.
https://repository.nls.ac.in/popular-media/248