Sambalpur: Nursing Staff Continue Protest Despite ESMA, Threaten Indefinite Strike from 27th If Demands Are Not Met
Sambalpur: Despite the government’s enforcement of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), nursing staff from the Odisha Nursing Employees Association (ONEA) launched a protest on Wednesday, demanding a 10-point charter of demands. Ignoring ESMA restrictions, the nurses have gathered at the District Headquarters Hospital to stage a sit-in demonstration. If the government does not take action to meet their demands, the union has threatened a complete strike on the 27th of this month.
Strike Threat and Ongoing Protest
The nurses have continued their strike, excluding the ICU, labor rooms, emergency surgery, and SNCU. However, if their demands are not met, they intend to escalate the protest to an indefinite strike, beginning on the 27th. The government has been notified of the potential escalation, and the union is waiting for a response.
Staffing and Promotion Issues
Currently, the District Headquarters Hospital employs 77 nursing staff, including 12 temporary nurses. Government regulations require a bed-to-nurse ratio of 6:1 for general services and 4:1 for emergency services. However, the hospital currently operates with only 283 sanctioned positions, resulting in staff shortages. Despite their eligibility, senior nursing officers have not been promoted due to a variety of administrative issues. The union has protested the appointment of senior nurses as group nursing officers in various primary and group health centers, claiming that it excludes qualified candidates.
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Key Demands
The union’s main demands include the promotion of nursing staff based on seniority and qualifications, increased night duty allowances, and the regularization of temporary employees. The union is also advocating for the regularization of contractual employees hired before November 12th, 2013, and their placement in permanent positions after six years of service.
Frustration and Pending Government Action
Despite repeated requests to the government, no concrete action has been taken to address these issues. Nirupama Swain, President of the ONEA Sambalpur Branch, expressed frustration, noting that the government promised to resolve these issues within a month during a bilateral meeting with the Health Minister on July 25th. However, no action was taken, causing the nursing staff to become increasingly agitated.
Health Services Unaffected So Far
Despite the protests, District Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sujata Rani Mishra stated that healthcare services have not been disrupted. In the absence of regular staff, nursing students have been temporarily deployed to ensure that services continue uninterrupted.
The nursing staff are hoping that by intensifying their protest, the government will finally act on their long-standing demands; if not, they are prepared to go on indefinite strike.
