Members of the Karnataka State Veterinary Inspectors Association on Tuesday staged a hunger strike at Freedom Park in Bangalore.
Nearly 1,700 members of the association, who have been demanding hike in salary and other benefits on a par with doctors working with the Health and Family Welfare Department, had gone on strike last month.
They submitted resignations en masse and set the deadline of October 3 for the government to fulfil their demands or accept their resignations.
Association vice-president Nataraj T.H. said that although the government finalised the restructuring of the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, the demands of the veterinary surgeons were yet to be considered.
“A high-powered committee set up to examine our demands last year has also recommended that our salaries and incentives should be on a par with the doctors who work under the Health and Family Welfare Department. The matter was supposed to be placed in the Cabinet meeting scheduled on October 4. But we have learnt that the meeting has been put off,” he said.
Mr. Nataraj said that the pen down strike launched by the veterinary surgeons last month, is continuing.
Listing their other demands, Mr. Nataraj said besides seeking salary hike and field allowance, the association wanted the State government to implement the Non-Graduate Veterinary Pensioner Act, give time-bound promotions and rural and field allowances.
