Associations say plan on to hold indefinite strike from May 28 if there’s no decision from th government to withdraw its plan of outsourcing vacant posts
Nurses stage a demonstration at Azad Maidan
Services at government-run hospitals and medical colleges are likely to get hampered as nurses have called a 2-day strike from May 26 against the government’s decision to outsource manpower for the posts of nurses lying vacant for several years.
The government is planning to outsource the hiring of 1,749 nurses of the total 4,500 vacant posts across the state. Nursing associations have opposed this decision. In fact, nurses at government medical colleges and hospitals are boycotting duties from 7.30 am to 8.30 am every day since Monday while hundreds have been agitating at Azad Maidan for the past 2 days.
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Maharashtra State Nursing Association secretary Sumitra Tote said, “We oppose the privatisation of nursing in government hospitals. We have been demonstrating for the past two days, but there is no response. So now we plan to start an indefinite strike from May 28.”
A senior official from the Directorate of Medical education and research said, “Last week, we held discussions with 3 nursing associations and assured them that the outsourcing of nurses will be temporary. Once the permanent recruitment is done, we will remove the outsourced ones. But they are not ready to listen. Now, it is all up to the government to resolve the issue.”
1,749
No. of vacant seats for which hiring will be outsourced