Mysuru: The 165 women, whose jobs as civic workers at the University of Mysore UoM ) was threatened following tweaking in the rules, are showing no signs of relenting as their protest against what they dubbed ‘unfair termination’ by the varsity administration entered the fourth day on Friday. The women have been protesting round the clock, sleeping at the entrance of the Manasagangothri campus, and forced to relieve themselves in the open. The situation of Chaya, with a nine-month-old baby in tow, is particularly distressful. Chaya has been struggling to feed her child in the open for the past four days, even as the varsity administration appears to be in no hurry to put an end to the impasse.The 165 civic workers have been serving UoM for the past 14 years, and they launched the stir in the wake of the varsity’s decision to outsource cleaning , which would effectively have rendered them jobless. Refusing to take this injustice lying down, they launched a protest under the banner of ‘Karnataka State Composite University Cleaning Workers’ Association’ from Tuesday. Intent on reclaiming their job, the workers have refused to budge from their stance.Lack of access to lavatories during the agitation has been one of the major problems confronting the workers. The protesting women said that, the varsity administration had locked the toilets besides the arch to prevent them from using it. “It is very hard for us to relieve ourselves in the open, and onlookers only make it worse,” said some protesters.Kantamma, a resident of Paduvarahalli, admitted that her family members were so moved by their plight at the protest site that they had requested her to abandon the agitation, and return home. “But, I am reluctant to go home. It is not just a matter of days for years. We have served the varsity for years together,” she told TOI.Lakshmamma, 48, of Sundalli in Mandya district, said that she had had to leave her physically challenged husband at home in order to participate in the protest. “I would travel from Mandya to UoM every day. My family members are asking me to leave the job, and return home. It is very difficult for us women to leave our families behind, and protest round the clock. But we will protest till we get justice,” Lakhmamma told TOI.The protest by the hapless women is far removed from those that the public are accustomed to watching on television. It is not so much about waving of flags or wearing black bands around one’s arm that has been the highlight, but the many trials that they have been subjected to since they launched their agitation. On the night of Tuesday, when they launched the stir, it rained heavily leaving them drenched. The women have been forced to sleep on plastic sheets. However, they have faced no respite from mosquitoes or the biting cold. However, doctors from the city’s Medical Service Centre have volunteered to check their health.What has added to their sense of betrayal is the indifference of the varsity, and district administration, to their protest. Neither the in-charge vice-chancellor of UoM nor the registrar has bothered to speak to the protesters and hear their grievances. On the other hand, no official from the district administration has paid a visit to the protest site.All India Democratic Youth Organisation member M Umadevi lamented the disrespectful attitude towards women by the administration of a university, which was more than a century old. “It is the responsibility of the varsity to uphold the dignity of women. This protest has clearly reflected the pathetic state of affairs prevailing at the varsity,” Umadevi said.- ( By Akshatha J)

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