Kottayam/Alappuzha : The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a protest on Thursday against the mass termination of 61 temporary staff at Mavelikkara district hospital, which functions under the CPM-ruled Alappuzha district panchayat.
The protest, organized by the Kerala Government Hospital Development Society Employees’ Union (CITU), included a march and dharna outside the Alappuzha District Collectorate. It was inaugurated by CPM Alappuzha district secretary R Nazar, who strongly condemned the dismissals and called for immediate reinstatement of the affected workers.
Key Highlights:
- 61 temporary employees, working in departments such as X-ray, ECG, lab, theatre, sanitation, and security, were laid off a month ago.
- Many of these employees had 4 to 11 years of service.
- New appointments were made following tests and interviews, raising concerns of replacement without due process.
- The laid-off staff moved the High Court, alleging that they were dismissed without being issued show-cause notices.
Administrative Response
The hospital management, under the leadership of District Panchayat President K.G. Rajeswary, claimed the mass termination was due to performance-related issues among some temporary staff. However, no comprehensive explanation or dialogue has satisfied the protestors.
Union Demands and Threat of Strike
CITU district secretary P Shajimohan said that despite holding discussions with district panchayat officials, no resolution has been reached. He warned that the union will escalate the protest by launching an indefinite strike in front of the hospital starting next month if the dismissed workers are not reinstated.
“The affected employees were not even given a chance to respond to allegations or defend their service record. This is unjust and violates their rights,” said Shajimohan.
The issue has triggered broader debates around job security for contract and temporary workers in Kerala’s public healthcare system, and whether existing policies offer enough protection for long-serving employees.
