ANM body threatens stir if govt ignores demand

TURA: The All Meghalaya ANM and LHV Association has threatened to protest if its demands for revision of pay scale, release of pending salary and payment of other allowances, among other things, are not fulfilled.
The auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and lady health workers’ body had sent its memorandum to the government in 2015 and 2016.  While the government promoted 26 auxiliary nurse midwives to lady health workers, which was one of the demands, in January.
Other demands like revision of existing scale of pay, admission of compensation for holiday foregone, enhancement of uniform allowance, release of incentives for ANMs, speedy implementation of assured progressive scheme (APS), regularisation of ANMs on contract basis, setting up of lady health visiting centre in the State and accommodation are yet to be considered.
In addition, they also demanded  the release of three months’ pending salary to their counterparts in North Garo Hills with a threat to take necessary measures if it is not released by Feb 15.
Claiming that only contract ANMs belonging to a particular community have been deprived of regularisation on account of passing the prescribed age limit, the association demanded that they are given permanent appointment on seniority basis beginning from 2008.