On the demand of increasing salary, the staff members of the famed Raphael Ryder Cheshire Home here are on a path of agitation. The agitated members of the staff are on path of confrontation with the management from last three days and are camping at entrance of the institution. The staff members are alleging that the management has increased the salary of Director and Principal by more than 30 percent but the other staff members were left high and dry.

Naresh Gurung, one of staff members said that majority of staff members working as gardener, driver, laundry men and ward boys are drawing less than Rs 7000 as monthly salary. He further informed that the nursing staff, matron and lab technicians are working on salaries ranging from Rs 8000 to Rs 10000 per month. Gurung said that one of a class IV worker of the institute is serving from last 35 years but he is getting a salary of only Rs 7372 per month. “We had earlier raised the issue of low salary with the management but we were told that organisation is serving the poor and mentally ill and the financial health of the institution is not very good. But when we noticed that funds are being wasted on unimportant things we decided to start an agitation. The government of India has also set up a minimum wage of Rs 15000 per month,’’ he said.

The members of the staff have submitted memorandum to the director of the institute in which a demand to increase minimum salary to Rs 15000 is made. When contacted, the Director of the institute, Arun Bhatnagar said that the staff members have submitted a memorandum and the chairman has constituted a committee to look in the matter. He said that the organisation is not a business house and survives on donations. The Director added that the staff members are getting free accommodation facility and other benefits.