The decision of the government to remove Group ‘D’ and non-clinical workers from government hospitals is inhumane, said the workers. 

Staging a protest under the aegis of CITU, in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in Madikeri on Monday, Group ‘D’ and Non-clinical Employees Association President P R Bharat said that around 400 employees in the district were working on contract basis as sanitation workers in various government hospitals in the district. But the government has decided to terminate most of these workers.

He further said that the order is inhumane. Even though the order has been stalled owing to the model code of conduct, there are possibilities of issuing the order in June.

The contract workers are panic struck, he added.

Stating that removing the workers who have been working for the last 10 to 20 years is an injustice to them, Bharat said that the fight against the government’s move will be continued till justice is attained.

“The government has not provided any job security to the contract workers. The government should provide minimum wages to all Group ‘D’ and non-clinical workers, along with providing Provident Fund benefit. Workers should be sanctioned four days of leave every month. The monthly salary should be fixed at Rs 18,000. ESI facilities should also be extended to them,” he said. 

Association secretary H K Janaki said that she has been working in the hospital for the last 20 years.

“If the government terminates our job all of a sudden, I cannot survive. The authorities in the government should consider continuing the temporary workers on compassionate grounds,” she said.

Stating that she has not been paid for the last two months, Janaki urged the government to pay the salary before the fifth of every month.

Association members Navin, Lokesh and B S Manjula took part in the protest among others.