As talks between the NHM employees and the state government failed to break the deadlock, the NHM Employees Association of Nagaland (NEAN) Monday announced that since there was no positive outcome, it has decided to continue with the ongoing “total cease work”.
In a press release, NEAN said the members had a meeting with the head of department of H&FW and officials on June 15, 2020. However, NEAN termed it as “very unfortunate” that no concrete decision/commitment/assurance could be provided by the principal director and the mission director to its demands.
NEAN has appealed to all responsible to extend support and understand the hardships and step-motherly treatment meted out to NHM employees. NEAN said its members have been dedicating their service to society for so many years especially sacrificing their life during this COVID-19 pandemic and with meagre remuneration.
NEAN expressed deep regret for the inconveniences caused to the public due to the ongoing cease work protest. NEAN said NHM employees were compelled to go on protest, because the government did not positively address or look into their grievances seriously despite repeated requests.
NEAN Also alleged that the department gave step-motherly treatment to NHM employees all these years. It said that “Year after year, we have been assured verbally to redress our grievance without any positive outcome.”
NEAN also accused the department of continuing with “illegal action” and treating NHM employees as second class citizens and that its members were “expected to be always the yes men.” Asserting there was a limit to hardship and tolerance, NEAN said the employees assure they would continue to serve the people, but not before their grievances are redressed.
NEAN also appealed to the public to understand and support their movement. It expressed confidence that the people will support it “because we have tried our best to serve the people even with meagre fixed salary and step-motherly treatment by the government” till it was faced with the extreme illegal action of the government.
NJDA demands fresh Advt; revocation of cabinet decision
Nagaland Junior Doctors’ Association (NJDA) has demanded revocation of the “unethical” regularisation of 27 posts of medical officers (MOs) in the department of health & family welfare(DoHFW)recently, and issuance of fresh advertisements for open and fair recruitment.
NJDA through its media cell, has also demanded withholding of 36 MO posts advertised on contingency basis, till a consensus was arrived at. It also demanded immediate creation of no less than 100 general duty medical officer (GDMO) posts within the current financial year to overcome the acute shortage of doctors in the State. NJDA also insisted that the State government ensure that all Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) clear their Medical Council of India (MCI) exam in order to enable them to practise Nagaland, as without it, their credentials would be highly questionable.
NJDA expressed shock at what it described as “insensitive response and his total lack of compassion” on the part of principal director(DoHFW) Dr Vizolie Z Suokhrie after several memorandums were submitted to the directorate and meetings held between with him and its office-bearers.
NJDA said Suokhrie’s remark “there is no question of fair or unfair….in a situation where nobody wants to apply…some have come and that is one thing” was rhetorical and lacking in logic with no substantial explanation on how government took policies.
“When the principal director is supposed to look after the welfare and grievances of its juniors, such ignorant and step-motherly treatment towards the doctors’ fraternity has completely demoralised its members,” NJDA noted.
NJDA also said if all the posts had to regularised, National Health Mission (NHM) doctors should have been given preference as that they have been shouldering the responsibility of combating COVID-19 pandemic from Day-one, besides years of services rendered till date.
NJDA also informed the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) that creation of MO posts had been on its agenda which is has been pursuing for the past two to three years.
While welcoming creation of posts in any grade NJDA however insisted that recruitment should be fair and transparent. It also reminded that the 27 posts were not created but were against vacant sanctioned posts.
Further NJDA pointed out that Manipur Public Service Commission had advertised 1,326 MO posts (allopathic) between 2014 and 2018, besides again issuing fresh advertisements recently for 300 regular MO posts to cater to demands of COVID-19 pandemic.
Similarly, it said Arunachal Pradesh Service Commission advertised 100 MO posts last year along with recent announcement of 69 MO posts creation amid this pandemic by chief minister Pema Khandu.
NJDA however regretted that in Nagaland only 80 MO (allopathic) posts were advertised for open recruitment by Nagaland Public Service Commissioner between 2011 and 2019 with no post creation at all.
Recruitment done based on advt: CM
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio Monday said that the decision to recruit doctors recently was based on the open advertisement.
Informing this during the press conference at the secretariat conference hall, Rio pointed outthat though some doctors had applied, their papers were not complete while a few of them were already recruited. He assured that the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department was on the job to resolve the matter.
Rio also clarified that service cadre of National Health Mission doctors was different as they were working under a mission funded by the Centre while the State government had to follow service rules and guidelines.
He explained that owing to acute shortage of doctors and nurses, the cabinet decided to recruit 53 doctors and 143 nurses to help manage the pandemic, adding the salary expenditure on account of these new posts was estimated at Rs 11.07 crore annually.
