The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) Kerala Branch, in collaboration with the Federation of Employees in the Public Sector, will take out marches to and stage dharnas in front of ESI liaison offices on Wednesday, demanding takeover of ESI hospitals by the Central Government and planning integrated projects for better health of poor employees. The march will begin at 10 am at all 14 districts in the state.
The INTUC alleged that most ESI hospitals and dispensaries are in a miserable state, where there are no proper treatment facilities or availability of medicines. They also alleged that there are not enough doctors or paramedical staff at these hospitals, not to mention the unclean and dirty surroundings of the hospital.
The dual administration of the ESI hospitals by the ESI Corporation and the Labour Department also creates a lot of problems, said INTUC. The administration of the 9 hospitals and 137 dispensaries benefiting as many as 5.5 lakh beneficiaries should be handed over completely to the ESI Corporation, they demanded.
The state-level inauguration of the march and dharna in front of the ESI liaison office at Thycaud in Thiruvananthapuram will be inaugurated by INTUC state president R Chandrasekharan, while it will be presided over by district president V R Prathapan. Former MLA Sharatchandra Prasad, INTUC state vice-president G Subodhan, general secretary Attingal Ajith, treasurer V J Joseph, organising secretary P Sudhakaran, Antony Albert, A Christopher and R M Parameswaran, among others, will speak on the occasion.