Contractual staff of SMCH go on 24-hour cease-work

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, Feb 22: Casual workers of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) have decided to go for 24 hour cease-work from today in support of their 6 point charter of demands. Ujjal Kanti Das Laskar, secretary, SMCH Contractual Workers’ Union, said, “We have been the victims of discrimitory attitude of the authorities which has deprived us of our legitimate rights.” He added to say they have put in all their efforts and labour to work in the larger interest of this premier medical college. But, sadly enough, they have not been given justice and have been receiving meager salaries.

Ujjal Kanti Das Laskar pointed out they have lost their prime time of life and also the opportunity to get absorbed elsewhere because of their growing age. Despite repeated representations to the authorities concerned and the state government to do justice to them, they have been flouting the guidelines of the labour department in respect of their salaries. The casual workers are pegged at the lowest range of salary of Rs.3000 and Rs.5000 only. He alleged that the authorities of SMCH have rather indulged in nepotism and giving appointment to their close persons even after their retirement on a salary ranging from Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000 per month.

Against such discrimitory and flagrant violation of standing state government norms and guidelines, there is no action or stricture on the authorities involved in it, alleged Alif Kahan Laskar, president of the Union. There is no promotion for the contractual workers. Though 300 posts of III and IV grade employees have been lying vacant, no promotion is being given from among the contractual workers. Even the unemployed youths of this Barak Valley are being deprived of their tural justice to get jobs according to their merit. People in the absence of adequate man power are affected in getting services in the Hospital.

The state government on the other hand speaks about providing the people the best of services and for which all necessary facilities are being given to the SMCH. Alif Kahan Laskar rather pinpointed by offering below standard services to the patients admitted in the Hospital, the authorities at the helm of affairs are virtually helping the private nursing homes and hospitals to serve their interests better. They have demanded minimum Rs.13,500 per month as their basic salary, all the vacant posts have to be filled up from amongst the regular and contractual workers.

Besides, the Union has also pressed for provision of houses for all the grade IV employees, to provide them medicines free of cost as well as furniture to them, adequate security in their place of work and the appointment of doctors, nurses and all other categories of workers in accordance with government rules and regulations. Before going for cease-work, the Union with its members have demonstrated before the office of the principal and the superintendent of SMCH for two hours.