SHILLONG: Over 2,000 Government nurses will stage indefinite strike from Saturday affecting the health services in the government hospitals against the apathy of the Government on their pending demands including filling up of vacant posts.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary on Thursday, the Meghalaya Government Nursing Service Association (MGNSA) said that with the deadline of 21 days issued by MGNSA ending on Friday, the members were compelled to resort to the agitation “by imposing an indefinite strike with effect from August 23”.
The Nurses Association said that the issue of filling up of vacant posts was raised in June giving a 30-day deadline to the Government after which a General-cum-Executive Committee meeting held on July 31 to pursue the matter. A resolution was adopted in the meeting to give a 21-day deadline to the Government with effect from August 2.
The Association said that there are as many as 468 vacant posts (from Deputy Director of Health Services (Nursing) level to the lower posts).
According to the Association, the bonded Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM) should be directly appointed whenever the post is vacant as per the usual procedure.
Other demands of the nurses include establishing a Nursing Cell or Nursing Directorate as per the direction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi since the year 2012.
They also stressed the need for creation of more posts as per Indian Nursing Council norm.
The Association added that the vacancies of both ANM and GNM should be filled up as early as possible.
According to the association, to fill up the post of ANM for both bonded and non bonded candidates, their posts should be advertised separately as has been done in the past and the same principle has been followed for appointment of nurse under General Nursing Midwifery(GNM).
Moreover, the Association reiterated that previous departmental committee should be made valid.
“Appointment for both the post of’ANM and GNM should be made as per the
procedure which has been followed in the past”, the Association said, adding that Government should declare the result of personal interview attended by the Non-Bonded GNM.
Amendment of service rule is another demand of the nurses association.