Bhubaneswar: More than 400 security guards at AIIMS Bhubaneswar briefly stopped work on Friday and held a demonstration in front of the hospital to protest against alleged delays in receiving their salaries. The sit-in, conducted from 6 am to 9 am, saw the guards accusing the outsourcing agency of failing to pay them on time for the past two months.
Role of Outsourced Staff
These outsourced employees play a crucial role in crowd management, security, and other ancillary services at the hospital. An agitating security guard stated, “The outsourcing agency has delayed our salary for the last two months. Part of our salaries have been deducted without any reason. Since the agency ignored our requests, we decided to hold a demonstration.”
Hospital Administration Response
AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Ashutosh Biswas clarified that the responsibility for paying employees lies with the outsourcing agency. He explained, “We only pay the agreed amount to the outsourcing agency as it provides us service. We have requested the agitating security guards to resume work on humanitarian grounds. We will take up the matter with the agency.”
Strike Called Off
Following Biswas’s assurance, the security guards called off the strike. However, another guard warned, “If the agency does not resolve our issue, we will again hold protest.” The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of outsourced workers in public institutions.
