Mokokchung, November 5 (MTNews): The ‘Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses- 2021 (DRAN2021)’ comprising staff nurses who were appointed during the pandemic have reminded the government to address their plight and they would commence with a ‘democratic peaceful sit-in protest’ from November 9.
The DRAN2021 in a reminder addressed to the Chief Secretary, the Secretary of Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), and the Principal Director of H&FW stated that it had submitted three representations at different points of time as well as an ultimatum on October 20, seeking redressal of their grievances.
The ultimatum also demanded the government to release their pending salaries from July to October (4months), within 7 days (excluding holidays) which expired on October 31. “But, till date, we have not received any response from the Government,” the group said. “The Government will be held solely responsible, if any untoward incidents occur during the time of our protest,” they added.
DRAN2021, the group of staff nurses who were appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic, stated that the H&FW Notification of July 5, 2020 notified the framing of basic guidelines for recruitment and service condition of the Medical Officers, Nurses, Technicians and other Para-medical posts that were created in the two Cabinet Meetings of June 11, 2020 and June 23, 2020.
Further, it said that Clause (5) of the July 5 Notification prescribes that “50% of the post of Staff Nurse shall be filled through queue system and the remaining 50% through direct recruitment” and that, in continuation of the notification, an Advertisement dated July 16, 2020 specifically stated that “applications are invited for recruitment against newly created posts on Regular Basis under the Department of Health & Family Welfare through the Department Recruitment Board”.
The DRAN2021 said its members appeared before the Department Recruitment Board and on being successful through the interview, were appointed in order of merit, while the Government allowed the other 129 posts (50%) of Staff Nurses to be filled up through the queue system.
“Therefore, when the Government has allowed to fill up 50% (129posts) through the queue system; We, who have appeared before the Department Recruitment Board interview, should not be denied our Legitimate Rights,” it said.