Thousands of Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANMs) working in Government health service went on strike from Tuesday.
The ANMs are agitated over the lukewarm response of the State Government on their six demands.
The association of ANMs, the Matra Shishu Evam Pariwar Kalyan Mahila Karamchari Sangh' had declared earlier that more than 8,000 workers would go on strike if their demands are not accepted by September 5.
On the day, the ANMs gathered near Vikas Bhawan and started a Dharna there. Addressing the gathering, the President of the association Guddi Matura said that the officials of heath department had given many assurances to them in past but nothing has happened. She said that the Chief Minister is not able to extract time for a meeting with the delegation of ANMs despite giving time. The President of the association said that the ANMs are feeling cheated by the government and are determined to continue their struggle till all their demands are accepted.
Matura said that grade pay of the ANMs which was reduced from Rs 2800 to 2000 should be now revised and increased to Rs 4200.
The speakers on the occasion said that in the month of March this year the state health department has released a recruitment advertisement for 440 posts of female health workers but the selected candidates are yet to be given appointments.
The association is of the view that their appointment would ease pressure on the serving workers. The association is demanding that a proper departmental structure of the ANM cadre should be prepared and the process of promotion in the 257 posts of Women Health Inspectors in the health department should start. The ANMs are also demanding the facility of U-health cards for them.