Security personnel at AIIMS Bhubaneswar ended their sit-in protest on Friday after receiving assurances from Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas that pending salaries would be cleared by evening.
The employees, engaged through outsourcing agency MVSF, had staged the protest alleging non-payment of wages, non-deposit of EPF contributions, and arbitrary deductions.
The protest disrupted security arrangements across the institute, with guards absent from most departments. Only the Emergency Department maintained coverage during the agitation. Nearly 440 security guards participated, pressing for immediate resolution of their demands.
Dr Biswas visited the protest site and assured the employees that the arrears would be settled promptly. He said the outsourcing agency had been directed to clear dues without delay. The authorities also indicated that arrangements with the agency would be reviewed to prevent future disruptions.
The employees withdrew their stir after the assurance, bringing relief to hospital operations. Reports confirmed that the outsourcing agency had failed to release salaries on time over the past two months, leading to growing frustration among workers.
The Directorate General of Shipping had earlier issued advisories for seafarers in the Gulf region, but in Bhubaneswar, the focus remained on ensuring uninterrupted services at AIIMS.
