A “poster campaign”, called by Unemployed Trained Nurses Association (UTNA) Nagaland to press for their various demands, was carried out in all district headquarters on Thursday. UTNA is demanding state government to revoke new re-amendment of Nursing Service Rules of Nagaland 2014, post creation, promotions and upgradation of Nursing Cadre in district hospitals/CHCs/PHCs and other health units.
UTNA Nagaland has clarified that the association has nothing to do with the ongoing agitation of Nagaland Staff Nurse Association (NSNA).
The association has cautioned that in the aftermath of its poster campaign if government failed to give positive response, it was committed to bring forth the anomalies, specifically connected with the issue, to the public domain. UTNA also said its further action was projected to organise rally.
Addressing media persons at Hotel Saramati, UTNA president Bendangmongba said over 1000 unemployed trained staff nurses were within the “jaws of career assassination” and many would join them after completion of training from various training centres.
UTNA stated that shortage of about 348 staff nurse plus 30% leave reservation and creation of barely 17 posts of staff nurse in 26 years while setting up new health centres and upgrading existing ones clearly highlighted the “mis-governance of successive governments.”
Over the years, UTNA said the standing Service Rules of the department have prescribed 100% entry/appointment to service of staff nurse on the basis of seniority from amongst the members of the association. However, it stated that draft rules, which was under process for finalization, has done away the said provision and prescribed 50% through NPSC and 50% by seniority.
The association said it was therefore protesting the same and urging government to follow the same mode of appointment as provided by the present standing Rules.
It queried whether the successive governments delivered justice to members of the association and to the people of Nagaland by barely creating 17 posts of staff nurse in 26 years? Questioning the sincerity of the state government, UTNA president further asked if the public fund for various projects including up-gradation of health centres and setting up new ones included funds for creation of requisite number of posts of nurse. He said if the response was ‘yes’, then, where the fund was?
UTNA president further asked whether the citizens of Nagaland were getting requisite medical services with a shortage of about 348 numbers of staff nurses and 30% on leave reservation.
He asserted whether non-creation of sufficient posts of staff nurse on one hand and setting up new nurses training centres on the other hand was a “sound/realistic policy” of the government.
The press conference was attended by chief medical officer (CMO), Dr M.A Wati, deputy chief medical officer, Dr Imcha and NTC representatives. Along with other district unit, the UTNA Dimapur unit also successfully conducted poster campaign in and around Dimapur.
Kohima: Unemployed Trained Nurse Association (UNTA) also launched the poster campaign in Kohima along with other districts Thursday. Briefing media persons at Hotel Ura, UTNA vice president Yhumchulo Seb also highlighted the demands and grievances of the association.
UTNA comprising of more than 1000 members from 2001 include all categories of nurses where more than 300 of them are serving in the centrally sponsored schemes and private nursing homes. UTNA general secretary Vilasenuo and advisor Tiakala and other members were present at the press conference.
Mokokchung: UTNA Mokokchung unit members also carried out its poster campaign some of which read “trained to be jobless etc.”, vowing to voice out against the state government’s policy. The campaign was successfully carried out. UTNA Mokokchung unit further cautioned that if their demands were not fulfilled they would carry out “indefinite agitation”.
Kiphire: Unemployed Trained Nurses Association (UTNA) Kiphire unit Thursday joined other units in undertaking a poster campaign at Kiphire Town by pasting posters in and around the town.
Association lamented the work of the government for not having consultation during the process of amendment of the 2014 Rules. It may be mentioned that the URNA took the agitation on the government with the consultation of the TNAI Nagaland Branch. UTNA Kiphire unit has appealed to the government to fulfil the demands made by the association.
Longleng: UTNA Longleng unit also conducted mass poster campaign on Thursday, which started from district hospital till upper Police Point Longleng town.
The poster campaign went off peacefully with no untoward incident. Some of the posters read “Creation of 17 Post of Staff Nurse in 26 years is Mis-governance”, “Essential Department turning into a corruption department”, “Our plight is the collective plight of the people of Nagaland’’ etc. District administration, police, NGOs were deployed to thwart any untoward incident.
Peren: UTNA Peren unit along with rest of the UTNA units of Nagaland observed a one day poster campaign against government. Peren unit has assured to extend full support to whatever steps UTNA Nagaland take in the future, said UTNA Peren unit president Chingkhiumei.