Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS/HB)

Udupi, Aug 9: MLA Raghupati Bhat, on Monday August 9, appealed to the employees of BRS Hospital to call off their proposed indefinite sit-in in protest against delay in payment of salaries and said, “I have already spoken to the staff of BRS Hospital. Ayushman has to get funds from Suvarna Arogya Trust. Around Rs 90 lac is pending. I spoke recently with the CEO of Ayushman and got Rs 20 lac released. The money which was released last time was utilized by the administrative department of the hospital.

“We will start paying salaries of group D employees first. I have assured them as an MLA. It is my responsibility to get them salaries till they work. There was a thought of running 70 government units and 130 staff on contract basis. So there is no need to hold a protest. Everyone knows the situation. If the employees protest it will cause inconvenience to the patients. As the government got changed this delay is happening. On Thursday I will make a final decision on this subject,” he said.

On the demand for a separate vaccination centre for the fishermen of Malpe, he said, “There is a demand to organize a separate vaccination centre for the fishermen of Malpe. Most of the time they are inside the fishing port only. We urge the chief minister (CM) to open a vaccination center at Malpe Port. The vaccines that are arriving under the district quota are not enough for others. So for fishermen a separate quota should be specified. Around 15,000 to 20,000 vaccines are required. It should be organized through their associations. I will meet the CM on Thursday and submit an appeal in this regard.”

Speaking on Kota Srinivas Poojary’s reappointment as a minister, he said, “Kota Srinivas Poojary has done very good work during his tenure in the Muzrai department. That is why he has received a better portfolio. He will do better work in the backward communities welfare department. The work of the Muzrai department will be continued by the new minister.”