Mysuru/Bengaluru: Opposing the State Government’s decision to directly recruit Group ‘D’ employees at State-run student hostels and residential schools run by the Backward Classes Welfare Department, hostel workers under the banner of Karnataka State Hostel and Residential Schools Outsourced Employees Association staged a demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru this morning.

Around 2,000 hostel workers working in Morarji Desai Residential School, Kittur Rani Chennamma Residential School, BCM Hostel, Social Welfare Department Hostel, Ekalavya Model Residential School, Atal Bihari Vajapayee Residential School and others from all over the State assembled at the Freedom Park  and staged a dharna.

Hostel workers numbering about 150 led by Mysuru District Hostel Workers Association President Jagadish Surya and District Assistant Convenor Shashivardhan arrived at Bengaluru and joined the other protestors at the Freedom Park.

Strongly opposing the Government’s decision, the hostel workers said that the Government’s decision to go for direct appointment will severely affect the workers who have been serving for years for lesser wage. They also demanded the authorities to regularise their work for having worked in the institutions for more than two decades.

The protestors were also scheduled to take out a rally from Freedom Park to Vidhana Soudha pressing for fulfilment of their demands.