Class Four staff of Ruia Hospital intensify stir

Tirupati: The Class IV employees of Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati, who have been agitating for the past nine days, intensified their stir on Tuesday. It may be recalled that they launched the agitation demanding the hospital authorities to reduce their work load. However, when the higher officials did not respond they launched a novel protest by kneeling down in front of the hospital. The patients are facing problems with the boycott of the duties by the employees. The employees alleged that there is a scarcity of staff in the hospital as 80 employees were doing work of 400 employees. "We appealed to the higher authorities and public representatives many a time, but in vain. Hence, we launched the stir," they said. Speaking on the occasion, union leader Ratna Kumar said, "We are not demanding either a hike in salary or bonus, but only asking to reduce the work load. For the past 10 years only 80 employees were doing the work like bonded labourers. The patients' admissions were on the rise over the years, but accordingly the appointment of male nurse orderlies (MNOs) and drivers were not being done. The authorities concerned, who are supposed to recruit the staff, are turning a blind eye towards the problem," he alleged. Recently, a notification issued for 14 posts, but only eight posts were filled, he recalled. Another leader Guruvaiah lamented that the officials were burdening them with work for the past 10 years. The work load was taking a toll on their health, he deplored. The higher officials are not responding despite the stir was going on for the past nine days. "We will continue our stir still the authorities concerned appoint the required staff," he said.