Dehradun: Nursing students go on strike for stipend hike

The nursing students of Dehradun are on indefinite strike called by the Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association. The health services of the government hospitals of the state are badly affected due to the protest.

The government health services of the state are badly impacted due to the indefinite strike called by the Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association in support of its demands. 

As per the Tribune India report, earlier the protesting nurses went on a three-day casual leave and the number of patients arriving in hospitals started decreasing.

The Uttarakhand government has evoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the state, and the belligerent nurses said they had patiently waited for two years for the government to fulfil their main demand for a grade pay hike. “We had apprised Health Minister SS Negi about the lackadaisical attitude of the government and our patience, but he did not agree to our demand,” said Anjana Bhowmick, president of the Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association.

Dr RP Bhatt, Director General, Health, said efforts were being made to bring around nurses. “We are willing to hold talks with them but they should not resort to strike, as it affects patients,” he said.

The BJP district unit has also supported the nurses’ strike, asking the state government to immediately address their issues. The party activists also held a protest against the state government and Health minister Surendra Singh Negi.

“Guidelines of the medical council do not specify a stipend. If a written proposal is submitted, it can be looked into. Until then, students who are missing classes will be marked absent,” said Dr Ashutosh Sayana, director, medical education and principal GDMCH, as reported by TOI.

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