In the most ungrateful way of activities, the Health and Family Welfare Department here removed from jobs the ANM (Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery) workers who worked day in and day out during the Covid 19 pandemic daring all risks.
At the same time, the department has not paid them their wage of Rs 850 per day since the very day of the contractual appointment.
“We worked for last three months with all sincerity. We also won the hearts of the patients as we never bothered for us; rather took their utmost care.
But when the disease is in declining graph, the Government is removing us which is nothing but sheer ungratefulness towards the sincere workers,
otherwise termed as ‘Covid Warriors’ by none other than the Government and public,” said an ANM worker from the dharna spot in front of the Covid hospital (old District Headquarters Hospital) here.
When Covid was at its peak, the Health department here appointed 47 ANMs in the first phase and 164 in the second phase.
But it has engaged 111 ANMs in different hospitals of the district, and left behind 100 creating resentment among the left-outs. “Hence, we want justice.
We demand all of us to be re-engaged in the same contractual posts,” they said before the officials who came to them to convince for withdrawing the stir.
They also submitted a memorandum to the State Government through the Collector of Sambalpur demanding justice.
“Even if State Government has decided to extend our temporary services to the end of December, the local authorities here are terminating us in the middle without any suitable reason,” they alleged further.
“We will continue the agitation till our demand is fulfilled since the local health authorities here are not following the instructions of the Government, they asserted.
Meanwhile security arrangements have been made at the dharma spot keeping in view the gathering of a large number of women.