Deekshith DV

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 27: A section of contractual nurses and group D workers, who are appointed in the dedicated Covid care center at Wenlock hospital, are unhappy as their salary gets delayed every month.

It is said that these nurses and workers have been appointed on a contract basis to fight the Covid-19 situation.

Speaking to Daijiworld on condition of anonymity, a nurse from the hospital said, "Contractual nurses, who are appointed for the Covid-19 duty, have a high risk of getting infected. We put our own lives at risk, fight against the deadly pandemic and serve the patients. Unfortunately, we are not getting our salaries on time. It will be delayed by a month. As we have family and other commitments, it has become very difficult to lead our life. We are yet to receive the salary for the month of April."

Wenlock hospital (file photo)

Another nurse informed that during the first wave of Covid-19, the nurses who were treating the patients were provided three days off after they worked for three consecutive days. But, this time though, the nurses who are deputed in the dedicated Covid care center are given only a day’s off in a week,” she said.

A group D worker also informed that even they do not receive salaries on time.

Speaking over phone, district medical officer (DMO) Dr Sadashiv Shanbhag said, "The salary for the month of April will be credited soon. As there was a delay in the budget, it got delayed. The salary for March has been already credited.”

On weekly offs for the nurses, the DMO said, “During the first wave of Covid-19, there was such a system where nurses worked for three days and were provided offs for the next three days. But now, they are working on rotation basis and they will get an off once a week. Only one off per week has to be given even under the government guidelines. We are already paying risk allowance along with the salary. If the government releases any additional allowance, we will surely pay them.”