Nagaland: Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses 2021 threatens to initiate democratic agitation

Dimapur, Oct. 21 (EMN): Department Recruited Aggrieved Nurses 2021 (DRAN) has threatened to initiate democratic means of agitation if the state government fails to address its demand within seven days with effect from October 20 adding that the latter would be held solely responsible in the event of any untoward incident during the time of agitation.

DRAN has been demanding for regularisation as per advertisement order no. DHFW-1-534/COVID-19/SN/2019-20, which appeared in the local dailies. It also demanded to release the pending salaries from July to September 2022.

In a representation to the commissioner and secretary of Health and Family Welfare and the Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, the organisation has drawn their attention to the representations submitted on November 4, 2021, and August 31, 2022, as well as on September 19, 2022, for necessary action.

It recounted the government notification vide order dated July 5, 2020, “as per recommendation of the manpower rationalization committee (MRC) the department to fill up 50% of the post of staff nurse from queue of former nursing diploma/ graduates and remaining 50% to be filled up through direct recruitment and open competition.”

It added that the department “in continuation to the advertisement dated July 16, 2020, with regard to the recruitment against newly created post of staff nurse 110 posts under the department of Health and Family Welfare through departmental recruitment board had notified an additional post of 19 to the existing 110 posts, which amounted to a total number of posts for the staff nurse to 129 posts.

It claimed the total no. of posts including the vacancies and post creation was 258 posts.

It stated that 50% (129 post) was recruited through existing seniority queue basis vide letter No. DHFW-4/Apptt-SN/2020/6548, while 50% (129 regular posts) was advertised where thousands of candidates applied for the said posts and candidates were shortlisted in order of merit vide letter no, DHFW-5/COVID-19/SN/2019-2020/6494 dated Kohima December 7 and recruited through the process of open and far examination/ interview by the department recruitment board.

It, however, expressed dismay to note that the appointment letter order No. DHFW-1/Appt-SN/2020/7085-94 dated 15-04-2021 the word ‘temporarily engaged’ was cited, which was in stark contrast to the advertisement No. DHFW-1-534/COVID-19/2019-2020 dated 17-7-2020 which states “applications are invited for recruitment against newly created posts on regular basis under the department of Health and Family Welfare through the recruitment board.”

The organisation felt that they were treated unfairly and deprived of what is rightly their despite their contribution when COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak.

In the light of the above stated circumstances, DRAN has decided to initiate democratic means of agitation.