JNIMS nurses line up stir from July 25
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 22 2019: JNIMS nurses have resolved to launch different forms of agitation from July 25 in protest against the State Government's failure to translate the MoU signed between the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), JNIMS unit and State Government representatives on February 6, 2019 into action.

Addressing a press meet held today at JNIMS, Porompat, TNAI, JNIMS unit joint secretary Phurai-latpam Janapriya Devi said that JNIMS nurses who carried out agitation on several occasions in the past had called off their agitation following the signing of an MoU between representatives of TNAI, JNIMS Unit (representing agitating nurses of JNIMS), State Government representatives, including Chief Secretary (Forest & Environment), Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), Principal Secretary (Finance), Director, JNIMS and Medical Superintendent, JNIMS on February 6 this year.

She said that the MoU was signed in pursuance to a meeting held in the office chamber of the Chief Secretary on February 6, 2019 wherein the demands of JNIMS nurses were discussed at length.

The demands of JNIMS nurses include rectification of their Grade Pay and providing due benefits such as nursing allowances, uniform allowances, high risk allowances and qualification pay, National Pension Scheme (NPS) deduction and old pension benefit (to employees appointed before 2005) and Assure Career Progression (ACP) to JNIMS nurses, she continued.

She also explained that there are many anomalies in the salaries of nurses working at JNIMS owing to the State Government's failure to revise their pay at the time when pay revision for all paramedical staff was done all over India just before the implementation of 6th Pay.

This resulted to the pay disparity between the nurses working in JNIMS and RIMS, she said adding that the pay structure for JNIMS nurses are made similar to that of the nurses working under State Health Department while the doctors working in the same institution (JNIMS) are enjoying salaries similar to those of the doctors working at RIMS.

Pointing out that nurses in JNIMS and RIMS are doing the same work, Janapriya claimed that nurses in JNIMS deserve to get pay equal to that of RIMS nurses, she demanded that JNIMS nurses be paid equivalent salaries at the earliest.

The joint secretary then lamented that JNIMS nurses are being deprived of nursing allowances which nurses all over India and world enjoy while stating that deprivation of nursing allowance off JNIMS nurses amounts to dishonouring the latter's privilege (JNIMS nurses).

There is no GPF deduction for JNIMS nurses and their GPF accounts remain stagnant till date.

Furthermore JNIMS nurses appointed before 2005 cannot reap the benefits of Old Pension besides depriving of ACP scheme, she added.

The joint secretary then conveyed that the understanding reached between the representatives of TNAI, JNIMS, JNIMS higher authorities and State Government officials on February 6, 2019 include referring of all their demands to Finance Department (Pay Implementation Cell) for speedy analysis.

Decrying that the authorities concerned have failed to fulfil the understandings reached between TNAI, JNIMS, JNIMS higher authorities and State Government till today, Janapriya warned that JNIMS nurses will carry out sit-in-protest from July 25 till 27 which will be followed by cease work strike from July 29 onwards until their demands are fulfilled.

Comment