As part of a month-long protest plan, government nurses in Puducherry on Friday, abstained from work and staged a two-hour long protest at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Child Hospital, to highlight their pending demands., including the filling up of existing vacancies.
The protest, held under the banner of the Puducherry Government Nursing Officers Association, however, did not affect emergency medical services as the hospital functioned with skeletal staff. The association had held a similar protest at the government hospital two days ago.
The nurses are demanding, among other things, the implementation of the enhanced allowance of ₹7,200 from the existing ₹4,800, the filling up of vacant posts of Nursing Officer, Senior Nursing Officer, Deputy Nursing Superintendent, Assistant Nursing Superintendent, and cadre restructuring.
The association also wants the government to ensure the safety of nurses working on night shifts, regularisation of 33% of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) nursing officers, and the adoption of a fair transfer policy.
