Nurses on 3-day strike at JNIMS and Dental College Imphal
JNIMS, Imphal, (Manipur): Nurses at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) and Dental College, Imphal have gone on a 3-day strike starting Thursday. The nurses are protesting against various inequalities starting from pay structure to other discrepancies when compared to RIMS (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences) Imphal. Nurses who are on patient duty at wards are not taking part in this strike.
According to media reports coming from Imphal, the demands made by the nurses are: Rectification of grade pay, nursing allowance, uniform allowance, high risk allowances and qualification pay.
The nurses on strike are also demanding National Pension Scheme deduction and old pension benefit to employees appointed before 2005 and Assure Career Progression scheme to JNIMS nurses.
“We cannot make pay structure at par with the RIMS, because RIMS is totally a central government sponsored organisation, whereas JNIMS is state sponsored. So, it depends on the revenue of the state and the economy of the state. We are actively and positively considering to enhance whatever the state government can do,” said Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh.
The nurses are blaming the state government for failing to take notice of their condition and fulfilling the assurances that were made in February this year, after an agreement had been reached.
