Mangalore: The All India Workers’ Union (R), conducted a Protest Rally at Shiv Bagh in Kadri area of the city on Wednesday, Dec.15 in front of ESI hospital demanding certain facilities and proper treatment to the workers during their illness. The protest has continued  today.
The Union leaders alleged that the workers were forced to go from pillar to post by the ESI hospital employees and the bureaucracy in Kadri, instead of giving them due attention and solving their health problems.
It was alleged that these innocent workers were put to unnecessary hardships or trouble and harassed by the staff members of ShivBagh ESI hospital on slightest matters, for required documents, dispensary assistance and even registration as patients under a national ESI scheme of health recovery.
The Protest Rally in a procession started at 10am from Kottara Chawki on the outskirts of Mangalore and proceeded to Urwa stores, Lalbhagh, PVS circle, Bunts’ Hostel and took the path of Mallikatta in Kadri to reach ESI premises yesterday.
The Union has warned that the confrontation will continue until all the ten demands were met suitably. Leaders addressed the workers’ rally, on both days.
The demands included more employees to be recruited to look after the patients (workers) admitted to Hospital. The patients and expectant mothers among workers sought freedom from any kind of exploitation and wanted full relief from anxieties. Trained doctors should be appointed to help patients suffering from emergency situations. Identity Cards should be used for medical treatments for workers in the ESI hospital.
Sudath Jain Shirthady (Genl. Secretary), Girish Arekal, Harish Venur (treasurers), Santosh Kumar (City Co-ordinator), Nagesh Bantwal (Org. Secy) and advisers Prakash Rai Kenjaru among others were present in protest rally.