Officials' Assurance Makes SVIMS Contract Workers Call Off Stir

Tirupati: Contract workers of the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) at Tirupati called off their strike late on Saturday night after officials assured them that their long-pending demands will be addressed.

There are over 800 contract employees, including ward boys, who have served SVIMS for over three decades. After serving the strike notice on June 4, they launched their strike on July 4 demanding regularisation of their posts, increase in salaries, and their recognition as ward assistants instead of mere sanitation staff.

The strike by hundreds of contract employees had an immediate impact on functioning of the SVIMS hospital, apart from causing distress to patients. When the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management warned them of stern action as the Essential Services Maintenance Act is in force, contract workers went on to intensify their strike.

Senior officials including TTD executive officer J. Syamala Rao, district collector Dr. S. Venkateswar and SP V. Harshavardhan Raju reviewed the situation on Friday with officials of all stakeholder departments. Officials and representatives of striking workers, including those of CITU, met at the RDO office on Saturday afternoon.

Later in the night, a team of senior officials, including SVIMS director Dr. R.V. Kumar, RDO Ram Mohan Reddy and ASP Ravi Manohara Chari, visited the protest site and informed the workers that their key demands are under active consideration and a positive resolution is expected.

Following their assurance, the contract workers formally ended their relay hunger strike. Leaders from CITU and SVIMS Workers’ Union expressed their gratitude to the hospital administration for its positive responsive approach.

SVIMS Workers’ Union executive president K. Venugopal confirmed that they have ended their strike and the protest camp has been dismantled.