Intervening in the standoff between the State Government and nurses of the State health services who are on indefinite strike, the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) has asked the nurses of the state health services to join their duties and ordered the state government to resolve the issue immediately. The HC while hearing a Public Interest litigation (PIl) on Friday has ordered the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary Health of state to immediately convene a meeting with leadership of agitating nurses and resolve the issue. However when contacted the spokesperson of Uttarakhand Nursing Services Association (UNSA), laxmi Punetha said that the association is yet to receive the copy of the order. “Chief Minister Harish Rawat has called a delegation of association for meeting at his residence on late evening today to discuss the issue”, she said.
Earlier in day the Principal Secretary Health, Om Prakash said that though the demand of higher pay was rejected by the ‘Pay disparity committee’, the issue has been referred to a high level committee headed by Revenue Minister, Yashpal Arya. The state government had declared the nursing services as essential services and prohibited strike. He said that the demands like nursing allowances, restructuring of the cadre and promotions are being actively looked into. One of a demand regarding promotions on the post of Deputy Director was accepted by the government on Friday.
Meanwhile despite appeal of Chief Minister Harish Rawat to call off their strike and implementation of No Work No Pay under ESMA on them the reticent nurses of state health services continued their strike. leaving the hospitals in lurch the nurses are camping at nurses’ hostel located in front of the Doon hospital. The speakers on the occasion resolved to continue their strike till the government passes an order for increase in grade pay. The nurses said that they are committed to take their agitation to a logical end and would not be intimidated by the threats of administration. The state health services have 1270 nurses and barring few all of them are on strike. The nursed manning the administrative posts like matrons are also participating in the strike.