Protesting outsourced staff threaten to stage foot march to Chandigarh

The indefinite dharna by a section of outsourced employees of the University of Health Sciences, Rohtak (UHSR), on Friday entered its 110th day at Maitri Park outside the campus.

The protesting workers have now announced that they would launch a foot march from Rohtak to the residence of the Haryana Chief Minister in Chandigarh if their demands were not met by September 25.

The employees are demanding their absorption under the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN), stating that this move would not only secure their jobs but also provide them with employment benefits and job stability.

At a press conference held by the protest committee here, the employees expressed disappointment over the lack of dialogue with the PGIMS administration. They claimed that despite symbolic hunger strikes and peaceful demonstrations, there was no response or negotiation initiated by the authorities.

“The HKRN is a policy of the Haryana Government. We are not asking for anything beyond what the state has already approved. Why are we being left out?” asked one protestor.

The protesters also alleged that they were assured that would be action soon, but even after a month, no progress has been made. “If our demands are not met by September 25, we will launch a foot march from Rohtak to Chandigarh, to meet Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and present our demands and seek resolution,” said one of the protesters.