A MASSIVE protest was held on Tuesday against the proposed privatisation of JLN Hospital in Bhilai, with a joint platform of trade unions mobilising employees, retired workers, families, and citizens in large numbers to oppose the move. The demonstration, organised under the banner of a Joint Forum of trade union comprising INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, ACTU, LOIMU, and the Steel Workers Union, witnessed strong participation from workers, women, youth, and even children. Protesters raised slogans asserting their firm resolve. Hindustan Steel Employees Union (HSEU affiliated to CITU) General Secretary, T Joga Rao and Assistant General Secretary Jagannath Trivedi described the protest as a fight to protect a vital public institution built through the contributions of generations of workers.

 

After the demonstration, a memorandum was submitted to the Officer-in-Charge Director of Bhilai Steel Plant through hospital management and copies were also forwarded to the Chairman and Managing Director of SAIL and the Union Steel Minister. Speaking at the protest, union representatives strongly criticised the idea of privatisation, stating that workers who dedicated their entire lives to building the Bhilai Steel Plant are now being treated as a burden in their retirement. The trade unions’ leaders also pointed out that essential services such as healthcare cannot be evaluated purely on profit and loss considerations. “Healthcare is about saving lives, not generating profit,” they said, warning that privatisation would disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable sections of society.

 

The participation of women, families, and children added emotional weight to the protest, underlining that access to affordable and quality healthcare is a concern for the entire community, not just employees. The Joint Forum of trade union announced that the agitation would continue through democratic and peaceful means.