BENGALURU: Protest by the employees of Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha against the management of Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) continued for the fifth day on Sunday. While the outpatient department continued to stay closed, the inpatient and emergency were operating.
Vinod Kumar A C, president of Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha Employees Association, said, “This protest is to demand the removal of the employees appointed since 2014 who were appointed illegally and in excess number. Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha management appointed at least 670 non-teaching staff though there were only 200 vacancies.”
“All appointments were made by violating Sangha rules. Appointments were made without considering vacancy positions and without conducting interviews. There is a rumour that for every appointed post an average of Rs 5 lakh is collected which works out to be roughly Rs 30 crore in total,” he added.
The management is struggling to pay salaries of permanent employees citing bad financial status, Vinod alleged. “This kind of unwanted employment will worsen the financial conditions of Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha. This will harm the future prospects of the permanent employees and the Sangha itself,” he added.
“Therefore, all permanent employees of Sangha are sitting on indefinite strike under the leadership of Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha Employees Association. This protest will continue till all the new employees appointed since 2014 onwards are removed,” he said. KIMS management was unavailable for comment.