The leader of agitating malaria workers, Pushkal Kumar Sahu was admitted to Dr Ambekdar Memorial Hospital by the police after his health deteriorated on Sunday.
However, the malaria workers demanding for regularisation continued with the agitation and said that they would continue to sit on dharna till their demands are met.
Pushkal Kumar Sahu, the State President of Malaria Workers Sangh was on fast unto death for two days and his health deteriorated on Sunday. He was admitted to Dr Ambedkar Memorial Hospital by the police. Two other leaders accompanied him to the hospital while the remaining continued with their protest.
They claimed that around 700 malaria workers were providing their services for past 14 years as contractual employees in different districts of the State.
They were demanding for regularisation of their services when the Government expelled them on March 31. They had given representation to the Chief Minister in his Jandarshan programme. But nothing was done and therefore they had decided to go for a protest.
The malaria workers had been sitting on dharna since June 2 and accused the senior authorities of the Department for being insensitive. “Our families are on the verge of starvation since we are left jobless,’ said a worker.
They said that the repeated pleas and representations made by them were overlooked and the authorities paid no heed. It was due to this, Sahu sat on fast unto death since Friday. “We will not be deterred by police action or arrest and are more than willing to face any action. We will take the fight till the last,” they said.