Today Bangalore is breathing a sigh of relief from its garbage crisis, but many Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s contract pourakarmikas are yet to get paid. On Women’s Day many women pourakarmikas ‘Express’ spoke to said that they have either borrowed money or pledged their gold to make ends meet.

Jayamma (40), who has been sweeping the roads of Coconut Garden Layout at Nagarbhavi ward for the past five years, said she has not been paid her salary of `5,054 for the past four months. Since her husband died of cancer a few months ago she is the only breadwinner and has to ensure that her daughters goes to school. “I stay in a rented house near Amarjyothinagar and has to pay `1,800 per month for rent. If I do not pay rent, my landlord will throw me out. How can I survive in the city (without a house) with my two teenage daughters. The city is not safe,” she said. Jayamma said she has borrowed `10,000 from a lender and has to repay with interest.

The story of Maniyamma, another pourakarmika working at Rajajinagar is no different. Her husband met with an accident two months ago and is now at home.

“He is not able to work at present. With this, the money we were getting from him has stopped. With no earnings, I had to pledge my gold earrings for `8,500 at a pawn broker shop. I have three children, all of them are too young to work,” she said.