Against the backdrop of phase-II agitation by the Nagaland Staff Nurse Association (NSNA) (nurses without degree and diploma) and the Registered Nurse Registered Mid-wife (RNRM) putting forward their respective grievances, the health and family welfare department Monday informed that the government was actively pursuing the matter.
Addressing press conference Tuesday afternoon at directorate of health and family welfare, commissioner and Secretary M. Patton IAS admitted that the main issue was over the Nurse’s Service Rule 1988 which had caused discontentment among serving nurses over claims and counter-claims of supersession.
Having realised that the 1998 Service Rule had to be amended otherwise it would only cause more problems, Patton said several committees had gone into the matter. He said it was and only in December 2014 that the Rule was the amended and the draft Nurse’s Service Rule (NSR) 2014 was put up before the P&AR department for active consideration of the government.
Patton said the draft was made possible through active participation of various associations of in-service nurses including the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) Nagaland Branch; Nagaland Staff Nurses Association (NSNA); BSc/MSc Diploma Holders Group and ANM association. Several round of meeting were being with the various stakeholders that included the trained nurses, NSNA, B.SC/M.SC, diploma holders group and ANM association, Patton informed.
He however regretted that nurses refused to withdraw their agitation despite appeals that the process needed time. Underlining the proposed amendments, Patton asserted that because of the 1998 Service rule, various anomalies had cropped up such as the requirement that a nurse had to possess at least a diploma course of not less than 3 months on ward management, for promotion.
He disclosed that the amendment proposed include: 1.Qualification criteria for staff nurse- basic minimum qualification for staff nurse is GNM but BSc/MSc will be included as they qualified GNM course. All the above category of personnel must be posses registration certificate from Nursing Council.
2. Seniority will be fixed from date of joining; 3.Promotion will be based on over seniority-cum-merit; 4.No additional qualification required form promotion to higher grade if one possessed GNM degree; 5. BSc/MSc holders will be given preference to teaching posts but will not be given undue privilege to claim seniority over others and 6. As per P&AR memo, additional financial benefits should be given to those who have done additional diploma/degree courses.
To queries whether the mass casual leave has affected the functioning of the hospitals, Patton informed that contingency plans were made through services of National Health Mission, NSACS, ANM, GNM Degree/Diploma holders.
Patton also informed that the department has also included various creations of posts in proposed service amendment rule which included creation of 41 gazetted officers’ posts, 72 more nursing sisters and equivalent posts and creation of 52 more staff nurse posts.
He said 60 nurses of all categories would attain superannuation by 2020 and if a proposal was approved by the state government, immediately 123 out of 191 staff nurses up-to the year 2000 batch will get their first promotion, since three B.Sc/M.Sc nurses of 2000 batch were given their first promotion . He also said that by 2020 all the remaining , up-to the year 2000 batch will be promoted which would clear all the backlogs. Once all post creations were made, 175 staff nurses can be immediately recruited. He said by the year 2020 60 more nurses could be recruited and opportunities would be given to trained nurses seeking government jobs.
Patton maintained that once the 1998 Service Rule was amended, the nurses would be benefited beyond their imagination. He renewed his appeal on all nurses to withdraw the agitations in view of the life of patients as all efforts were being made to redress grievances failing which, the government would be compelled to adopt a tough line.
Nurses continue stir
Meanwhile, NSNA continued phase-II agitation in the form of three-day mass causal leave Tuesday. NSNA general secretary Tovili said they have not received any written assurance from the government, hence, the mass causal leave would continue. She said on completion of phase-II stir, the general body would decide on the phase-III agitation.
NSNA Mkg unit resolves
Nagaland Staff Nurses Association (NSNA) Mokokchung unit has resolved to continue with its ongoing agitation till the demands met. In a press release, NSNA Mokokchung unit president Moajenla and secretary Imsurenla expressed regret for inconveniences caused to the people and requested to bear with them.
CTS appeals
Chang Women Organisation (CTS), which met agitating GNM staffs at civil hospital, Tuensang, has appealed to the responsible authority to fulfil the demands at the earliest. In a press release, CTS president W. Anti expressed concern that with the “experienced manpower on strike” it could have adverse effect on the smooth functioning of the hospital.