Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 15: The sacked security guards of Wenlock Hospital, who have been working on behalf of ‘Premier Institute’ which had hired them, held a dharna in front of Wenlock Government Hospital here on Sunday March 14, after learning to their dismay while reporting for duty in the morning, that they have been shown the door, and that the personnel of ‘Doberman’, another security agency, have been pressed into service in their places. The main grievance of the guards was that they had no clue that they would be removed, and no notice was served on them, other than oral information by the supervisors when confronted.

It is learnt that as per a memorandum of understandings finalized by the department of health with Kasturba Medical College (KMC) and Hospital, after health minister, Ramachandra Gowda, held extensive discussions with the KMC authorities during his visit here on January 11 this year, students and doctors of KMC will be given extensive access to the Hospital. In return, the KMC will not only fund some development projects at the hospital, but also take up complete responsibility of security, cleanliness and nursing services of the hospital at its cost. On Sunday, the security agency hired by KMC had deputed its personnel.

Not only 18 guards manning the hospital, but nearly 60 attendants working there since the last over a decade, face the prospect of losing their jobs now. This is contrary to the assurance given by the health minister Gowda and MLA, Yogish Bhat that only cleaning and operational responsibilities would be undertaken by KMC and that there would not be any other adverse impact. The cleaning staff, who were also removed all of a sudden, also protested the move.

Democratic Youth Federation of India’s city committee has joined hands with the sacked workers, and its representatives held discussions with the hospital authorities. DYFI city president, B K Imtiaz, Sadiq Kannur, Santosh Bajal and several leaders joined the protesters and promised to take up their cause.