A work boycott by about 100 sanitation workers has disrupted services at Doon Medical College Hospital in Dehradun, where employees are demanding equal pay for equal work. General wards were left without routine cleaning on Sunday, and accumulated waste caused difficulties for patients and attendants.
The workers are employed through Upnal. They cleaned all 3 intensive care units and the burn ward after a special request from Medical Superintendent Dr. RS Bisht. However, they refused to resume cleaning in the remaining wards.
The buildup of dirt and waste in those wards has raised the risk of infection among admitted patients. The disruption also means that attendants and hospital staff are facing poorer cleanliness conditions in areas serving general patients.
Workers demand written assurance
The striking employees have said their work boycott will continue until their demands are accepted or they receive a concrete written assurance. The immediate dispute centres on their demand for “equal pay for equal work”.
Their position leaves the hospital facing a continuing sanitation challenge beyond the critical care areas and burn ward. The source material does not indicate that the strike has ended or that an agreement has been reached.
Government-level discussions continue
Doon Medical College Hospital Principal Dr. Geeta Jain said discussions on the workers’ demands were taking place at the government level. She added that the relevant documents were being examined.
Dr. Jain appealed to the protesting workers to return to duty in the interest of patients. She also said the hospital administration was working on alternative arrangements to reduce inconvenience for patients.
The hospital’s immediate priority is to maintain cleanliness while discussions continue. Until the workers return or an alternative arrangement becomes operational, general wards may remain under pressure from the sanitation disruption.
Conclusion
The strike by about 100 Upnal sanitation workers has left Doon Hospital’s general wards facing accumulated waste and a stated infection risk, while the 3 ICUs and burn ward were cleaned after an appeal by the medical superintendent. Government-level discussions and document checks are continuing, with the administration pursuing alternative arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why are the sanitation workers on strike?
They are demanding equal pay for equal work.
Q. How many workers are involved?
About 100 Upnal sanitation workers are participating in the work boycott.
Q. Which hospital areas were cleaned?
The workers cleaned all 3 ICUs and the burn ward after a request from Medical Superintendent Dr. RS Bisht.
Q. What happened in the general wards?
Cleaning did not take place there, and dirt and waste accumulated.
Q. What risk has the situation created?
The accumulated waste has raised the risk of infection for patients admitted in the affected wards.
Q. What has the hospital administration said?
Principal Dr. Geeta Jain said discussions were continuing at the government level and that alternative arrangements were being prepared.
Q. Have the workers ended the boycott?
No end to the boycott or agreement was reported. The workers said it would continue without their demands being met or a concrete written assurance being provided.
