By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 25: Following the recent impasse at NEIGRIHMS over the 80:20 female-male nurse ratio, the Director of the Institute, Dr. Nalin Mehta, has clarified that only the Centre has the authority to make decisions regarding the demands.
Dr. Mehta, sharing his views on the issue, explained that the institute has been consistently recruiting staff, having hired around 700 people since 2022. While acknowledging the numerous vacancies, he mentioned that the institute continues to advertise and strives to complete the recruitment process as soon as possible.
He also criticised certain media reports for misrepresenting the facts, stating that NEIGRIHMS is a central institute with rules distinct from those of the state. He emphasised that as Director, he does not have the authority to change the rules, and that such changes fall under the purview of the Ministry.
Addressing the impasse over the 80:20 female-male nurse ratio, Dr. Mehta clarified that it was not a new recruitment issue, but rather a backlog that needed to be addressed.
These positions had been vacant, and the institute intended to fill them using a 200-point reservation roster, which dictates how recruitment should be conducted and how seats should be allocated to different categories.
He further explained that no rule mandates an 80:20 ratio for every recruitment. When NEIGRIHMS participated in the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test, all National Institutes of Importance (INI) decided to implement the 80:20 ratio. However, NEIGRIHMS is not classified as an INI.
Subsequently, NEIGRIHMS opted out of the Common Eligibility Test and wrote to the Ministry, requesting permission to implement the 80:20 ratio according to the institute’s needs. However, the Ministry responded that such a change could not be made. The institute has since written to the Ministry again and is awaiting a response.
Dr. Mehta concluded by stating that adjusting the ratio to meet local requirements is beyond his control. He suggested that pressure groups should approach the Ministry directly, as only the Ministry has the power to make a final decision on the matter.