Kohima, November 9 (MTNews): The Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses 2021 (DRAN2021) staged a sit-in protest at the Secretariat junction, Kohima demanding the state government to regularize their service by honoring the July 7, 2020 cabinet memorandum and a government advertisement on July 17, 2020. DRAN2021 comprise of staff nurses who were appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It may be mentioned that the department of Health and Family Welfare recruited 129 staff nurses in 2020 during the pandemic through viva voce interview conducted by the Department Recruitment Board.
DRAN2021 president Lijamo Odyuo said that the July 7, 2020 Cabinet Memo clearly states that 50% (129) posts of staffs nurses was to be appointed through seniority basis, and the other 50%(129) posts through direct recruitment. Subsequently, he added,an advertisement dated July 17, 2020 was published in the local dailies inviting all the indigenous Naga inhabitant nurses for the interview which “was on regular basis.”He said the department also added another 19 posts bringing the total to 129 posts. “
Thousands appeared for the said job, and they were shortlisted and appeared for the interview. It was open and fair, and 129 were recruited on merit,” he maintained. However, till now, their service has not been regularized, for which they had submitted an ultimatum on October 20, 2022 stating that they would use democratic means/modes of agitation if their dual demands were not met. Their demands included regularization of their service and releasing their pending salaries for 4 months.
However, instead of responding to the aggrieved nurses, the department came out with a notification sending the 129 posts to NPSC.
“So,DRAN2021 gave a reminder on November 5, 2022 and staged a peaceful sit-in protest to demand for their legitimate rights. And, it will intensify with time unless our demands are met,” he stated.