Naga Mothers’ Association urges Nagaland Health minister to address nurses’ grievances

Dimapur, Nov. 12 (EMN): The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has submitted a representation to the minister of Health and Family Welfare, government of Nagaland, expressing concern over the ongoing agitation by the ‘Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses (DRAN) 2021’.

The nurses, who were recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been staging a peaceful sit-in at the Secretariat in Kohima since November 9, demanding the state government to regularise their services.

Citing the circumstances under which the agitating nurses were recruited, the NMA sought the immediate intervention of the Health minister into the issue and “ensure that due gratitude is given for the services rendered by these nurses during such at a risk of one’s life”.

“The Advertisement Order categorically advertised the posts of Nurses on regular basis, to which applicants were selected through a process including the interview with Expert panel. That their service be considered as many would be above the mentioned age, having served as contractual nurses since the NHM,” read the representation.

“The appointment orders are in contravention to the advertisement, and in the midst of the COVID lockdowns and posting to far flung areas, they were assured regularisation would be done,” it added.

Expressing the confidence that the issue could be solved amicably, the NMA urged the office of the Health department to meet the delegation of aggrieved nurses and ensure that justice is done for their bravery in working ceaselessly during the pandemic.

“We also urge that the Department ensures their pending salaries are released at the earliest,” it added.