‘We didn’t risk our lives to see this day’

November 10, 2022 30 Views No Comment

• Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses’ 2021 begin sit-in protest
• Demand service regularisation and release of pending salaries

Morung Express News
Kohima | November 10

Staff nurses under the banner of Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses’ (DRAN) 2021 began its peaceful sit-in protest demanding service regularisation and release of pending salaries from July to October at New Secretariat junction on November 9.

The Department of Health & Family Welfare has been entangled with problems regarding various issues with protests and agitations. The DRAN protest ensued right after the ‘cease work’ agitation called by the Nagaland In-service Doctors Association demanding superannuation of age, which was called off on November 7.

Staff nurses who were appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic were seen holding placards which read ‘We didn’t risk our lives to see this day,’ ‘Don’t use and throw us,’ ‘If you call us heroes treat us like one,’ ‘We saw the horror of COVID,’ ‘Wake up and do the right thing’ etc.

The focal contention of the agitating party is the notification issued by the H&FW Department dated July 5, 2020 framing the basic guidelines for recruitment and service condition of medical officers, nurses, technicians and other para-medical posts that were created in the two Cabinet meetings on June 11 and 23, 2020.

Under clause (5) of notification it stated that “50% of the posts of staff nurse shall be filled through queue system and the remaining through direct recruitment.”

Subsequently, the government had advertised on July 16, 2020 specifically stating “applications are invited for recruitment against newly created posts on regular basis under Department of Health & Family Welfare through the Department Recruitment Board.”

DRAN President, Lijamo Odyuo said that as per the advertisement it has appeared before the DRB, and were appointed in order of merit after the interview.

He further stated that 110 of them got through the interview while the department has added another 19 posts bringing the total to 129 posts. “It was an open and fair interview and we (129) were recruited on merit.”

While the government has filled up 129 posts (50%) of staff nurses through queue system, the other remaining (DRAN members) were yet to be regularised till today, said Odyuo.

“Our demand to the concerned authority is to honour the Cabinet memo dated July 5, 2022 where it clearly stated that 50% posts of staff nurses to be appointed through seniority basis, and the other 50% posts through direct recruitment,” he stated.

He stated that DRAN has submitted three representations to the government and an ultimatum on October 10, 2022 seeking addressal of its grievances within seven days (excluding holidays) which expired on October 31.

With no response from the government, DRAN had submitted another reminder on November 5, 2022 to resolve the matter at the earliest, cautioning that it would be left with no alternative but to resort to a democratic peaceful sit-in protest from November 9.

“Rather than responding to the aggrieved nurses, the concerned authorities have come with a notification sending our 129 posts to NPSC,” he stated.

“We, who have appeared before the Department Recruitment Board interview should not be denied of our legitimate rights,” stated DRAN in its reminder letter, adding that the government will be solely held responsible “if any untoward incidents occur during the time of our protest.”

Source: https://morungexpress.com/we-didnt-risk-our-lives-to-see-this-day