Health services in urban and rural health centres continued to be severely affected across Bokaro district for the second consecutive day on Sunday as ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery) and GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) of the district went on an indefinite strike demanding regularisation of their service and equal pay for equal work.
Around 160 ANM and GNM went on an indefinite strike on Saturday. Earlier, they had handed over a letter of their demands to the medical officer (in-charge) Dr. Nawab.
ANM Union leader, Asha Kumari, said that the Government is adopting double standards with them. “We have already informed about our genuine demands and of the indefinite strike to the Government as well as officials but no one is paying any heed,” she said.
“The permanent staff are getting much higher pay which is three times more than us for the same work,” added Asha.
“The indefinite strike will continue until the Government takes any concrete decisions over our demands,” she said.
The strike affected vaccination, childbirth, operations, malnutrition besides daily work at health centres in the district.
Sunita Mahato, a resident of Kasmar, said that it was with great difficulty that she was able to reach the health centre while suffering from high fever but was disappointed as no staff was there to attend her due to strike.