State government has cautioned the Nagaland Staff Nurses Association (NSNA) to withdraw ongoing agitation with immediate effect as the government was earnestly pursuing and deliberating on their grievances and demands.
In the event of failure to withdraw the agitation and arrive at a common ground for discussion, the government has said it would have no option but to proceed as per laid down protocols for disciplinary action.
According to a DIPR report, the government has stated that it has seriously taken up the representation of the NSNA dated September 25, 2014, adding that the department (H&FW) has also initiated a series of dialogues, meeting and sharing of the core issue relating to the service rules/promotion etc.
On the letter dated November 10, 2014, the government said it appeared that the core issue highlighted pertained to fixation of seniority and promotions relating to Service Rules. As such, the series of action has been initiated wherein, all the stakeholders including the Staff Nurse Association have been consulted, it said.
Reminding NSNA that the Supreme Court of India has banned bandh and strikes of any form disrupting public services, the government said NSNA activities amounted to defiance of the Supreme Court Order/direction and could be hauled up for contempt.
Despite repeated efforts of the government to solve the demands of the NSNA, the association has gone ahead with the planned phases of agitation. The government has once again appealed to NSNA to “kindly withdraw the ongoing agitation with immediate effect.”
NSNA members extend stir; vow to fight for justice
Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUL 1 (NPN): Nagaland Staff Nurse Association (NSNA) and those without degree or diploma under Registered Nurse Registered Mid-Wide (RNRM) have resolved to extend the mass casual leave agitation till July 4.
This was disclosed at a press meet at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) Wednesday evening after the general body meeting wherein it resolved to ask the government to fulfil the two-point charter of demands and negotiation over proposed amendment to the Nurse’s Service Rule 1998.
NSNA office bearers said they had submitted their non-acceptance letter on March 9,2015 against the proposed amendment 2014.
On the criteria of three months training for promotion, they pointed out that even the last batch called by the department of health and family welfare in 1999 for undergoing the three-month training were yet to get promotion.
NSNA office bearers informed that after 1999, there was no arrangement for any of the nurses to undergo the three-month training.
Revealing a new element, NSNA disclosed that the Nurse’s Service Rules 2008 was being followed with some clauses of the 1998 Service Rules omitted without approval of the departmental authority.
Their objection against the proposals in the draft amendment 2014 was that it provided more opportunities for senior most nurses; while the remaining nurses would remain stagnant in the same posts despite serving many years with some retiring by next year without benefit.
The two point-demand of NSNA was for introduction of two distinct channels and gradation to the general nursing staffs.
NSNA office bearers who spoke included its president Catherine and secretary Tovili.
The reasons for NSNA’s non-acceptance of the draft amendment submitted to the Commissioner and Secretary H&FW on March 9 included the following;
1. While the existing 1998 Service Rule provides equal opportunity to all the staff nurses who entered in service after completing prescribed training with pre-requisite educational qualification; the department violated it while giving promotion to the B.SC staff nurse.
2. That the 1998 Rules were ambiguously amended to regularize favour extended to the B.Sc staff nurse from time to time in gross violation of the existing 1998 Service rules.
3. The draft amendment Nagaland Nursing Service Rule 2014 was laboriously but contentiously prepared to subjugate the promotion chances of the general nursing staff nurses.
4. At almost every stage of promotion chances to class II and I gazetted post from staff nurse, the existing service rules were amended so that only BSc/MSc./diploma/PB candidates get the chances for promotion.
5. Duties of staff nurses are practical in clinical as required by the patients and doing most of the clinical works in government hospitals all over the state. However NSNA alleged that the report of the committee was simply to manufacture promotion chances of the BSc/MSc/diploma/PB staff nurses.
6. NSNA said ignoring the clinical duties while depriving promotional chances of those with clinical experiences will jeopardize the function of the department and clinical zeal in particular.
NSNA said the department and committees were obsessed with qualification and not clinical works and its demands have obviously ignored
NSNA vowed that despite being under intense pressure from authorities who favour BSc staff nurses and threat to make NSNA defunct, they will carry on their fight till justice was delivered.
Degree/diploma nurses react to govt statement
Reacting to the government’s statement on the proposed amendment of Nursing Service Rule 2014, members of degree/diploma nurses clarified that the basic qualification to be a staff nurse was GNM. However, they said B.Sc/M.Sc nursing cannot be equated with GNM since the level of study was much higher.
On government’s assertion that no additional qualification was required for promotion to higher post if one possessed “GNM degree”, the degree/diploma nurses, Nagaland ad hoc joint action committee, in a press release, clarified that GNM was not a degree but a mere diploma.
They said in case of GNM even a 12 passed Arts candidate was eligible and selection was carried out through departmental interview.
Whereas for undergoing B.Sc nursing course, the ad hoc committee said one needed to pass 10+2 Science. Moreover, they said a candidate for B.Sc nursing has to sit for JEE/NSEE. They queried if no additional qualification was required for promotion to higher grade, why were candidates selected to undergo B.Sc nursing through JEE/NSEE? Further, they pointed out that Indian Nursing Council has laid down certain job descriptions at different levels and accordingly the course was being implemented. Agreeing that B.Sc/M.Sc nursing be given preference to teaching post, they, however, said their legitimate claims of seniority cannot be overlooked.
They also contested the claim that the Draft Nursing Service Rule 2014 “was made possible through the active participation of various associations including B.Sc/M.Sc, Diploma holders group.”
They clarified that the B.Sc/M.Sc, diploma holders group was never a part of the drafting committee of the said rules.
Stating that the group was invited only at the stage of preliminary approval of the said rules, they said several objections were raised at that time but none of these were considered.
Stating that NSNA has categorized RNRM as a separate group, the degree/diploma nurses has, therefore, requested the government to verify whether the members of NSNA possessed RNRM certificate issued by the Nursing Council, which was mandatory for all nurses to practice their profession.
Further, pointing out that as per Nursing Service Rule 1988, for promotion from Staff Nurse (GNM) to nursing sister, one has to undergo three-month ward management course, the degree/diploma nurses, however, expressed surprised that this requirement was proposed to be waived after 27 years, which, they said, indicated “a regression of nursing services.”
Meanwhile, the degree/diploma nurses have requested the government to impartially study the matter for the welfare of the nursing fraternity.
SH expresses concern
Correspondent
ZUNHEBOTO, JUL 1 (NPN): Following the mass casual leave agitation of nurses under the NSNA, Sumi Hoho after having visited the Civil Hospital Zunheboto (CHZ) expressed concern over scenario where patients were left unattended.
SH team led by vice president H Khehoshe Yepthomi, Vishiho and Nitoho rushed to the CHZ and interacted with the patients and matron on Wednesday.
Adding up to the problem, SH further lamented that CHZ had been reeling under the absence of the Medical Superintendent (MS).
SH has urged the competent concerned authority to pave way in addressing the issue amicably for the welfare and safety of the public.
SH further reiterated that they “are not for or against any opposing party (s). The primary concern is the public outcry and welfare.”
In a separate note, the ZTYO has submitted an open letter to the commissioner and secretary, Health and Family Welfare department “against the conduct and negligence of MS Zunheboto, seeking his immediate transfer from CHZ.”