Mythri S has been working in the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Shivajinagar for four years as a temporary staff nurse, but her pay has not increased beyond Rs 8,000 during the period. She filled in during times of emergency or staff shortage, with no sick leave or maternity leave and a compulsory leave only once a month.
This is the tale of around 450 temporary staff nurses working in four hospitals under the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI).
Things continued like this till the hospital management advertised for recruitment for nearly 600 permanent posts of nurses on January 6.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Mythri said, “We have been working for the past four to five years in these hospitals. Why are they advertising for fresh recruitments and overlooking us now?”
Organising themselves under the BMCRI Stipendary Staff Nurses’ Welfare Association, they launched an agitation at Banappa Park on January 9. But the authorities have not bothered to take any action.
“The permanent nurses get anywhere between Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 with all benefits, whereas our contract gets renewed every six months. We are required to work even on the day of the renewal of our contract,” said Shivakumar, who has been working in Victoria Hospital for the past six years.
Dr O S Siddappa, Director of BMCRI, however, claimed that there was no provision under the law which permitted regularisation of the services of the temporary staff. “Certain procedures of recruitment like passing the entrance exam have to be followed to qualify as permanent staff members. Moreover, the Cabinet will have to take the decision. If it gives its clearance, we have no problem in meeting the demands of the association,” he said.
Manjunath, President of the BMCRI Nurses’ Association, however, cites the examples of KIMS in Hubli, H M College in Hassan and Jayadeva Hospital in Bangalore, that have given permanent status to many of their temporary staff.