The contract workers who are serving as sweepers, cleaners and others in Bokaro General Hospital (BGH) have gone on an indefinite strike demanding to restore the ESI facility for them, which was suspended due to non-payment of the contractor for the past four months. The negotiation talks initiated by BGH management failed to pacify the issue.

The protestors on Friday staged a demonstration in front of the office of executive director (ED) of BGH under the banner of Jai Jharkhand Majdoor Samaj (JJMS). JJMS is a wing of ruling party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). However, the issue has bagged political colour as JMM city president, Mantu Yadav with cadres holding party flags also sat on the dharna.

The strike of sweepers has however affected cleanliness in the BGH as garbage and medical wastes were not removed in many wards. BGH sources said that there were about 200 patients admitted in different wards while 14 positive patients are in Covid ward and critical care unit. BGH run by Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) is a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and a dedicated Covid-19 Care Centre.

The workers were agitated since the past few months as their contractors are not paying them ESI, provident funds, Earned Leave (EL) and bonuses. Things worsened on Thursday when a sweeper Gopal Dome who is ailing from kidney disease is facing difficulty in getting better treatment due to lack of ESI.

JJMS general secretary B K Choudhary said, “Without ESI how will Dome afford the costly treatment.”

“We have given several reminders to BGH management to restore the ESI facility, but the officials never paid heed to it. Dome is not the only sufferer. Wife of another worker K Karmakar is also sick and cannot afford a better treatment in absence of ESI. Our demand is that BGH provides treatment to these patients as because of their ignorance ESI has not been paid by the contractor,” he added.

Yadav also said, “This state is under JMM rule. JMM cannot tolerate the exploitation of workers. Even after knowing that the contractor has not renewed or paid for ESI and other benefits of workers, how did the BGH management pay and clear the contractor’s bill. There is something wrong. If anything happens to Dome due to lack of treatment, BGH management should remain ready to provide a job to dependents.”

Patients are facing difficulty with waste littered everywhere. BGH management said the things are under control as they are using other manpower in removing wastes from the ward. Chief of communication, BSL, Manikant Dhan said, “Efforts are laid to pacify the issue soon”.