MANDYA: The non-clinical workers of
Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (
MIMS) staged
protest on hospital premises by boycotting work. They also urged the state
government to sanction them Covid-19
ex-gratia.
The workers alleged that the state government has been meting out step motherly treatment to them as they were excluded from being considered for ex-gratia while doctors and other medical staff are being paid the ex-gratia.
“The government announced to pay ex-gratia for doctors, lab technicians, and pharmacists for doing extra-work to combat
covid-19 while non-clinical workers were excluded. How fair is it?” the protesters said.
MB Nagannagowda, state president of Non-clinical Contract Employees Association, accused state government of insulting non-clinical workers who worked hard in combating Covid-19 by denying them the ex-gratia.
“There is no logic behind the government’s decision to exclude non-clinical workers from being paid. How could doctors and other medical staff fight Covid-19 without the help of non-clinical workers?” he added.
“If the stage government doesn’t pay ex-gratia to non-clinical workers, it should have not used them to fight Covid-19. By denying them ex-gratia, the government not only discriminate against them but also insulted them,” Nagannagowda alleged.
MIMS director GM Prakash met the protesting workers. He said the workers are being hired by agencies and hence neither MIMS nor the state government had any responsibilities towards paying them ex-gratia.
Prakash’s denial infuriated the protesters. They warned him they would not resume work until they get an assurance from the government and MIMS that they will also be paid ex-gratia. The protesters withdrew their protest after the medical superintendent promised them that the ex-gratia would be paid from next month.