Employees at the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, under the Samyuktha Thozhilali Union, organised a protest in front of the administrative block, demanding the expediting of staff integration under the Directorate of Medical Education. A number of political leaders from across the political spectrum took part in the protest and pledged their support to the cause of the employees.
The government had taken over the medical college in December 2013, but had been rather apathetic towards the welfare of the employees working in the college for the past 13 years under the previous management, the Cooperative Academy of Professional Education.There are over 800 employees under permanent, contract and daily wage categories.
While the government had stated that the employees would not be retrenched, the process of integrating them into the government fold was taking time, making them lose out on benefits.