Aids prevention workers seek job security

Contract workers under the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) entered the fifth day of their strike seeking regularisation of employment on Tuesday.

Among their demands are regularisation of jobs, timely pay and additional funds by the State government.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Ramesh Kattimani, State president, KSAPS worker’s Association, said that as many as 2,300 workers are taking part in the protest.
“We have all served the Society for over 10 years now. Most of us are above 40 years of age. What do we have to fall back upon if they ask us to leave? What will we do for a living,” he asked.

The employees said their increments, which were overdue for the last nine months, were credited only after they threatened to go on a strike.

Report sent to govt
The workers said that reports have not been sent to the government since June.
“We have stopped sending updates on cases that we have come across. Since we are on protest, counselling, regular medication dosage and identification of new cases will not be done,” the association president said.