PII's AITUC, INTUC SC/ST Welfare Assn to observe hunger strike

Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, Jun 25 (UNI) The Coordination Committee, comprising representatives of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and the SC/ST Welfare Association of the century-old Pasteur Institute of India (PII), will observe a hunger strike from July 7, demanding that production of DPT vaccines be resumed.

In a notice issued to the authorities concerned, they said for the past nine months, production activities had been suspended as per the instructions of the Union Health Minister to PII, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

As the job of all the employees was hanging in balance, the Committee had decided to observe a hunger strike for revoking the suspension and continuing production of DPT group of vaccines (DPT, DT and TT) and Tissue Culture Anti Rabies Vaccine. It had also demanded that the required grant be released to the institute and stop any move to relocate the PII.

They wanted the authorities to take appropriate action against the Director, who allegedly bought non-functional equipment worth crore of rupees and demanded appointment of a new director at the earliest.

UNI KS PY KP0934