Contract employees of the Health and Medical Department form a human chain as part of the lunch-hour protest at the King George Hospital premises in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
| Photo Credit: V RAJU
Contract employees of the Health Department formed a human chain at the King George Hospital (KGH) premises on Friday, as part of a lunch-hour protest, demanding regularisation and other service-related benefits.The protest, held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., was organised by the Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Contract Employees J.A.C., Visakhapatnam District. Employees from different departments and cadres participated, wearing black badges.The JAC said the demonstrations were being held during lunch breaks so that patient services were not affected.The JAC has demanded immediate regularisation of all contract employees who have been serving in the department for years. Until regularisation, it has sought payment of 100% gross salary, Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) facilities, full-pay leave for employees who fall ill, health cards for employees’ families, and Request Transfer and Mutual Transfer facilities.It has also demanded an ex gratia of ₹50 lakh for the family of every contract employee who dies while on duty, and a contract job for one family member.Another human chain is scheduled at KGH from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The JAC said it may take up a duty boycott on September 8 if the government does not respond positively by September 7. Published - August 28, 2026 07:13 pm IST
