‘COVID appointed’ staff nurses to protest on Nov 9
Dimapur, November 5 (MExN): Two groups of health workers— Staff Nurses appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic and Community Health Officers (CHOs) working at different Health and Wellness Centres across Nagaland—on Saturday, appealed to the State Government to release pending salaries and incentives.
In the first instance, the Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses- 2021 (DRAN2021) comprising staff nurses who were appointed during the pandemic notified that it would commence with a ‘democratic peaceful sit-in protest’ from November 9.
The group submitted a ‘reminder’ addressed to the Chief Secretary, the Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), and the Principal Director, Directorate H&FW, stating that it had submitted three representations at different points of time as well as an ultimatum on October 20, seeking redressal of their grievances.
The ultimatum expired on October 31, “But, till date, we have not received any response from the Government,” it said while asserting that “the Government will be held solely responsible,” if any untoward incidents occur during the time of protest.
The DRAN2021 stated that the ‘COVID appointed’ Staff Nurses have not received their salaries from July to October.
With regard to other grievances, the group of Staff Nurses who were appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic referred to the H&FW Notification (HFW [A] COVID-19/Appt-13/17/2020) on July 5, 2020 which notified the framing of basic guidelines for recruitment and service condition of the Medical Officers, Nurses, Technicians and other Para-medical posts that were created in the two Cabinet Meetings on June 11, 2020 and June 23, 2020.
It said that “Clause (5) of the said Notification dated July 5, 2020 prescribes that 50% of the post of Staff Nurse shall be filled through queue system and the remaining 50% through direct recruitment,” and in continuation of the notification, an Advertisement dated July 16, 2020 “specifically stated that “applications are invited for recruitment against newly created posts on Regular Basis under the Department of Health & Family Welfare through the Department Recruitment Board.”
In this connection, the DRAN2021 members appeared before the Department Recruitment Board and on being successful through the interview, were appointed in order of merit, while the Government allowed the other 129 posts (50%) of Staff Nurses to be filled up through queue system.
“Therefore, when the Government has allowed to fill up 50% (129posts) through queue system; we, who have appeared before the Department Recruitment Board interview should not be denied of our legitimate rights,” it said.
Nagaland Association of Community Health Officers
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Association of Community Health Officers (NACHO) reiterated its demand for the payment of pending salaries and Performance Based Incentives (PBIs) for 105 CHOs who have been unpaid since April 2022.
“The 105 CHOs, affected by 15th Finance Commission did not receive any formal intimidation as to why their salaries have been held back. The affected CHOs gave numerous representations and letters to the NHM demanding to release the salaries and Performance Based Incentives (PBIs),” the NACHO stated in a press release on Saturday.
The Association stated that it had initiated phased agitations starting October 11 during which the 105 affected CHOs observed total cease work while the other CHOs showed solidarity by wearing black badge during their work hours. All the while, numerous telephonic and in-room meetings were held with the department officials without producing any positive results, it said.
On October 18, NACHO progressed to the second phase of agitation till November 1 owing to the department’s failure to fulfill the demands of the CHOs. During the second phase, the unaffected CHOs resorted to ‘Pen-Down’ strike while the affected CHOs remained in total cease work.
However, till November 5 “the NHM haven’t released the salaries and PBIs of the CHOs nor have they given any written assurance as to when the salaries will be released,” it added.
In the light of such dire circumstances, NACHO has decided to adopt and continue the same form of agitation as the second phase with effect from November 2 wherein, the affected CHOs will observe total cease work and the unaffected members will observe ‘pen-down’ strike until otherwise decided by the NACHO.
“The CHOs of the association continues to urge the department to solve the issue without any further delay while regretting inconveniences caused to the public,” it added.
