Protests intensify at Kims

The ongoing protest by staff nurses at the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (Kims), seeking regularisation of services and hike in salaries, intensified on Thursday, the 18th day of the strike. 

While a few protestors went on a hunger strike at the hospital premises, some others requested Appaji Gowda, president, Vokkaligara Sangha, which runs Kims, to look into their demands. Two nurses, Shruthi and Poornima, fell ill during the protest.

With the protesters cornering Appaji Gowda, the police had to intervene to bring the situation under control. Appaji Gowda told Deccan Herald that a hike cannot be given at this point because the institute was undergoing a financial crisis. “In the past, a few were put on a pay scale on par with the government and are withdrawing a handsome amount as salary. The others are also demanding salaries on par with this and it cannot be done,” he added.