Contract workers of health department carry out protest march

Mysuru: Upset with the disparity in pay, and benefits, contract workers employed by the Karnataka health department on Thursday carried out a protest march starting from the Kote Anjaneya temple near Mysore Palace to the deputy commissioner’s office.
Protesting under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Arogya Ilakhe Guttige Noukarara Vedike, the workers cited the Supreme Court’s order in 2016 mandating the state government to put an end to contractual employment. “The state government has disregarded the directive of the Supreme Court,” the activists said.

Dubbing employing people on a contractual basis an ‘inhumane’ practice, the protesters said, “The system must be scrapped, and the state government must ensure job security for all employees.”

The protesters pointed out that, from doctors and nurses, to Group D employees, the health department employed several professionals on a contractual basis. “Since there is no job security, these workers can be dismissed anytime,” they added.

“If temporary workers of the health department in Haryana can be regularised, why can Karnataka not follow the same example? This is condemnable,” the protesters said.

The protesters handed over a memorandum listing their grievances to the deputy commissioner.