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Government nurses hold demonstration

BHUBANESWAR: Nurses engaged in government hospitals scuffled with police personnel on Mahatma Gandhi Marg during their demonstration in support of salary hike here on Tuesday.

About 2000 nurses under banner of Orissa Nursing Employees Association (ONEA) descended on the main road leading to the State Assembly pressing a 10-point charter of demands.

The agitating nurses had already declared that if the State government failed to respond positively to their demands, they would shun duties from March 27.

Clad in their uniforms, these nurses raised slogans against "discrepant policies and State government’s passive approach to address their concerns."

They were marching ahead to Assembly premises when police stopped them on the way leading to minor scuffle.

ONEA’s demands included salary at par with Central Government scale, immediate halt to contract appointments, filling of vacant posts, security at workplace and government accommodation.

A delegation of ONEA met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who reportedly conceded a few demands of nurses.

Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadai, Health Minister Sanatan Bisi and their secretaries were present at the meeting.

"We are satisfied with the talk. However, another meeting has been scheduled with Health Secretary to have a close look at our demands," Prabhati Mohanty, ONEA General Secretary, said.

She said if main demands on salary and appointments were met, the association could withdraw from its proposed strike from March 27.

The State Government appeared to have showed the urgency in view of junior doctors’ strike at three medical college hospitals.

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