Mysuru: Families of those who had died due to an oxygen shortage at Chamarajanagar district hospital on May 2, 2021, during the Covid-19 crisis, are set to get govt jobs after a five-year wait. Appointment letters will be handed over to 31 victims’ kin on April 21 during chief minister Siddaramaiah’s visit to Chamarajanagar. The death of Covid patients due to shortage of oxygen drew widespread outrage, with the hospital’s inept handling of the crisis coming under the scanner repeatedly. Congress, which was in the opposition then, had promised govt jobs to the kin of the deceased if they came to power. Once in power, the Congress-led govt in Karnataka constituted the Justice Michael D Cunha committee to probe these deaths. Speaking to TOI, Chamarajanagar district in-charge minister K Venkatesh said with these jobs, the state govt has kept its promise.Officials said the long-pending job assurance is being implemented as part of rehabilitation measures for the affected families. During his Chamarajanagar visit, the CM is scheduled to inaugurate multiple development projects, including a major initiative to recharge 110 lakes in drought-prone Gundlupet taluk at a cost of Rs 475 crore, and laying the foundation stone for a district hospital for Rs 48 crore at Mudigunda near Kollegal town.
