Trainee nurses and technicians at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology have gone on a protest demanding better pay and job security at the Institute. 

About 170 members staged a protest on Wednesday at the hospital premises leaving a few services crippled. Senior doctors, however, said that essential services remained unaffected while elective procedures were held back.

"We have been recruited as trainee staff. Even after completing several years here at the Institute, we are not given designated posts. We are also paid very less as compared to our counterparts working at other Institutes," complained one of the protesters who did not wish to be named. 

The protesters said that they are only getting a pay of Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 and are not entitled to any other benefits that the other staff at the Institute are availing. They also alleged that even as the amount has been sanctioned for Vajpayee incentive, it has not reached the employees. 

"We blame the administration for this. Even after repeated representations to the director, he has failed to resolve the issues," said another protester. 

It started off as a symbolic protest by wearing black badges to work, and on Wednesday, the trainees held placards in protest at the hospital. 

Speaking about the issue, Dr KB Lingegowda, director, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology said that the nurses have put forth a demand to hike their pay with no delay. 

"We are trying to resolve the issue and higher authorities are kept abreast about it. Decisions on pay hike cannot be taken immediately as it has to be placed before the finance committee and approvals have to be taken," he explained.