NewsKarnataka – Mangalore

Mangalore: The non-teaching staff of Kasturba Medical College staged a protest demanding an increase in salaries as per the state or the central government pay scales. The protestors  wearing badges were seen shouting slogans as part of the protest on Wednesday January 22.

Purushotham K M, President of Manipal University Employees Union who addressed the protestors said that till the year 1996 the non teaching staff used to get full salary as per the state government salary guidelines but since then it has remained steady  and has  not increased.

According to the state government standards that salary starts from Rs 9,600 whereas the non-teaching staff get only Rs 4,000 which is completely unfair. We have spoken to the management but no heed is paid as of yet, he added.

K Vishwanath Shetty, District President of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Sudarshan, President of Manipal University Non-teaching Employees’ Association, Suraj, Vice President of Manipal University Employees Union, and Nagaraj, Secretary of Manipal University Non-teaching Employees Association were present and addressed the agitators.
Several non-teaching staff like AC mechanics, accountants, blood bank technicians, cleaners, clerks, dark room assistances, general duty workers, laboratory technicians and others joined the protest.

Manipal

Udupi: Likewise, the Manipal University Majdoor Sangh also staged protest rally following the injustice done to the employees in terms of the salaries at Manipal University campus. As many as 5000 workers took part in protest both in front of the University including KMC Hospital, Attavar, Mangalore. The employees were protesting since one week by wearing black belts and badges.

Speaking on the occasion the Vishwanath Shetty, Bhratiya Majdoor Sangh state secretary, alleged that University has failed to pay justifiable salary to the employees who are the part of the success story of the University from years. He added the facilities offered to the employees is been cut off and the amenities like dearness allowances are not paid since ten years.

The Manipal University Purushottham Majdoor Sangh general secretary K N said despite approching the University officials several times, the employees have not revived any justice.

There is a huge gap of difference in the amount. The employees who have rendered service for more than 30 to 35 years draw only Rs 10000 to Rs 15000. The livelihood has become extremely difficult.

Meanwhile the Manipal University Registrar Dr G K Prabhu said It is most unfortunate that, a section of employees gathered in front of the University in Manipal and KMC Hospital, Attavar, Mangalore and held demonstration and shouted slogans demanding salary increase.

He said Manipal University has always valued the importance of employees. We have revised the salary during 2012, which has given good raise in salaries. Though the Industry norms is to carry out salary revision once in 3 to 4 years, we have felt that we need to undertake a  salary revision and consequently have been working on the revision.

The salary revision will be done with effect from April 1, 2014. The employees seem to be misguided. Such demonstration would affect the cordial relationship between the employees and the Management and a handful of employees should not be allowed to exploit the situation to serve their individual agenda, he added