Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Dozens of Data Operators proceeded on indefinite strike forcing closure of registration counter at Ara Sadar Hospital on October 11, 2021, in protest against non-payment of their emolument for the last five months. They staged demonstration at the Outpatient Department Building on the campus of Ara Sadar Hospital raising slogans against Bihar government as well as the State Health Minister. As a result, the working of the hospital particularly the vaccination centre was adversely affected.
Data Operator Shibu Kumar, deputed at the Vaccination Centre on the campus of Ara Sadar Hospital, said that all the Data Operators were working under an NGO ‘Urmila International Private Limited’ for the last eight months but were not paid for the last five months. He added that they wrote to the senior officials requesting them to pay their emoluments but to no avail. So they were forced to go on strike. He said that their main demands include immediate release of their five months’ emoluments and regular payment on time henceforth. He said their strike would continue till their demands were fulfilled. A woman Data Operator Indu Kumari said that she had not been ever since she joined the NGO.