Bengaluru: Health services in Karnataka were severely affected on Thursday as more than 9,000 nurses and paramedical staff hired on a contract basis by the state government went on an indefinite strike overnight.
The strike, organised by the Karnataka State Contract Paramedical Employees Welfare Association, entered its second day on Thursday. It began on Wednesday at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, where nurses and paramedical staff from all districts across the state gathered in protest.
Protestors say they have been serving for over 15 years but continue to receive a meagre Rs 14,000 monthly salary. They are demanding salary revisions, inter-district transfers, and confirmation of their services as permanent government employees.
Holding placards with slogans such as "Equal pay for equal work," "Divine justice, divine reach," and "We want justice," the protesters mostly women, spent the night at the venue on the Mahashivratri festival day, demanding that the government address their concerns.
The state BJP has extended its support to the agitation. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and BJP MP from Bengaluru Rural C N Manjunath met the protestors on Wednesday, assuring them that their demands would be raised in the Assembly.
Narayanaswamy said he would discuss the matter with chief minister Siddaramaiah and the health minister. Manjunath reaffirmed BJP’s backing, stating that nurses and paramedics are vital to the healthcare system and deserve fair treatment.
Karnataka nurses launch indefinite strike, intensifying demands for better pay, easier transfers, and job security to improve their working conditions.