PGI employees protest against demolition plan

Chandigarh, February 6

A day after Chandigarh Tribune reported the PGI’s plan to demolish a community centre, a central workshop and houses of employees to make way for two health facilities, the PGI non-faculty employees’ unions today held a black flag protest in front of these buildings.

Non-faculty staff of the PGI, under the banner of the PGI Employees’ Union, the PGI Medical Technologists’ Association and the PGI Engineering Staff Association held a mock drill carrying black flags.

They gathered during lunch time and surrounded the community centre, the central workshop and 40 houses. “Unfortunately, no step has been taken to plan/construct new community centre, central workshop and 40 houses in the last two-three years. Only 15 to 20 per cent of the 7,000 regular non-faculty staff has been provided with houses. Those bereft of the facility are forced to live in far-flung areas for cheaper accommodation, which proves as a hindrance in offering round-the-clock patient care service,” said the protesters.

The community centre was constructed using funds received under the MPLAD Scheme in 1996-97. Its renovation was under consideration. However, it would now be demolished, which was quite unfortunate. Moreover, building a geriatric centre adjoining religious places, which regularly hold functions and use loudspeakers, was an ill planned move, they added.

Employees’ unions would now appeal to Union Health Minister JP Nadda during his visit to the PGI on Saturday to review the decision. — TNS