TB affected employees demand equality at work

While the government committed itself to fighting tuberculosis on TB day, more than 250 members of the TB employees union staged a protest in the evening near India Gate, on Friday.

They were protesting against discrimination and denial of basic rights at workplace.

“We demand compensation for the employees who have died because of tuberculosis. Recently, a 12-year-old employee died due to TB and the government did not pay heed. 

“In last two years 20 employees have died but their families have not received any kind of security from the government,” said M Tripathi, president of the union.

Their demands include regularisation of contract-based employment, equal pay, allowances to permanent employees, better treatment of female employees suffering from TB, social security and special privileges.

“There are several employees who have not received their salaries for more than five months because they are TB patients. 

“We can prove this as their colleagues are getting their salaries on time. We had a word with the deputy director general of tuberculosis division in Delhi and he has promised to look in to the matter,” added Tripathi.