JNIMS contract nurses rue denial of rights
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 02 2025: While the role of nurses is crucial in health care, the contract nurses at JNIMS who serve as the backbone of the Institute are being denied their entitled rights.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle on condition of anonymity, a nurse at JNIMS hospital said that the theme of the International Nurses Day this year is 'Our Nurses: Our Future, Caring for nurses strengthens economies'.

While nurses play an important role in the healthcare system and are considered the backbone of a hospital, they are being deprived of their rights, the nurse lamented.

"It is even more challenging for nurses working in private hospitals to survive amid rising inflation with their meagre salaries".

The nurse continued that despite demands by the contract nurses of JNIMS, authority concerned continues to ignore their rights.

"One such right is the right to paid maternity leave as per the law, regardless of whether one is a government or private employee.

Yet, the contract nurses at JNIMS are forced to take unpaid maternity leave,", the nurse pointed out.

When matters regarding the Maternity Benefit Act, labour law, and FRSR rules were raised with the JNIMS authorities, they chose to suppress the files rather than engage in discussion.

Moreover, nurses who are diligently working are not paid their full salaries.

The status of the provident fund (PF) for contract nurses remains unclear, and despite working similar hours and duties as regular nurses, and any casual leave taken results in salary deductions.

In fact, the Institute is not extending support to the contract nurses, conveyed the nurse.

The nurse said that previously, in a ward with 20-30 patients, there were over 9-10 nurses on duty.

"But now only four nurses are on the morning shift and two at night in a ward with 30-40 patients.

This staffing shortage has made it difficult for nurses to provide adequate care, leading to dissatisfaction among patients" .

For doctors, even if they are not paid the same salary as central government employees, they have the full support of the Authority concerned.

In such a situation, nurses working in private hospitals of Manipur and the contract nurses of JNIMS do not relate with this year's theme, the nurse said, adding that the current situation would be huge hindrance to developing the health care system of the state.

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