Contractual Covid staff nurses in Tripura demand regularization of services
The protesting nurses demanded immediate regularization of their services
A group of nurses, who were enlisted by the government of Tripura on a contractual basis during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, took to the streets in front of GBP Hospital in Agartala on Tuesday. Their agitation stemmed from claims that the government is casting a shadow over their professional future and advancement.
Speaking to the media, a staff nurse participating in the demonstration expressed their grievances.
"Throughout the pandemic, as we battled the Coronavirus, the state government enlisted our services on a contractual basis with a monthly salary of Rs 20,000," the nurse recounted.
"Despite putting our lives at risk to tend to the afflicted individuals and tirelessly fulfilling 24-hour shifts, the government's promises of permanent positions, made by the then Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, remain unfulfilled. We find ourselves in a cycle of being dismissed from service every 2-3 months, only to be reinstated later."
The agitating nurses are questioning the state government about the prolonged uncertainty they are compelled to endure. They expressed, "We have written to the Chief Minister's office on multiple occasions and have sought appointments to address our concerns directly with him. However, our efforts have yielded no positive outcomes."
The group, consisting of 100 nurses known as Covid-19 staff, also brought to light the issue of pending salaries since March.
"Not only have we experienced the distressing pattern of being relieved from our duties and subsequently called back, but now, since March, our salaries have also gone unpaid," lamented one of the nurses.
In their plea, the protesting nurses demanded immediate regularization of their services. They are also highlighting the dire shortage of healthcare staff in state-run hospitals, underscoring the pressing need for reform.
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