Other States - Orissa   

Nurses suspend stir

CUTTACK: Following an assurance from the State Government that their demands would be fulfilled, the striking nurses of government hospitals joined their duties on Sunday morning, suspending their indefinite cease-work stir till April 20. Calling off their strike after three days, the nurses said the situation would be reviewed once again before April 20 and if warranted they would resume their indefinite strike.

Meeting a delegate of striking doctors, the State Health Secretary late on Saturday announced that the demands of the nurses would be sincerely considered after the election code of conduct—currently in force due to ensuing Assembly by-election—is lifted.

“In view of the assurance given by the State government, we have decided to suspend our agitation for the time being,” said Orissa Nursing Employees Association (ONEA) vice-president Anita Das. We would however, review the situation and if required resume the strike after April 20, she added.

Nearly 5000 regular and contract nurses of the State had gone on strike since Thursday demanding regularization of services of the contract nurses, salary revision and removal of anomalies in nursing service cadres.

Until Saturday afternoon, the striking nurses were giving indication that they would not call off the strike until their demands were fulfilled.

It was said that the nurses relented only when the Government had threatened to enforce the ESMA against the striking nurses.

Three days of boycott of duties by the nurses had crippled the health services in all government hospitals in the State including the three teaching hospitals in Cuttack, Berhampur and Sambalpur, which were limping back to normal after a weeklong strike by junior doctors.

Besides the SCB hospital, other government hospitals in Cuttack city like the Cancer hospital, City hospital and the Sishu Bhawan were severely affected as the nurses remained off-duty for three days.

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