Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Dec 29: Already strained and less in number, hundreds of nursing staff at the Associated Hospitals of Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar are ‘unjustly’ getting the salaries same as those of other para-medical staff in these hospitals.
The Government has treated the nursing staff and the paramedics as equals and in fact they are not. All the nurses working in these hospitals are appointed after 4-year extensive training with respect to their degrees, while as the paramedics which are in the same pay and grade undergo only 18-month training.
There are more than 1200 nursing staff in the Associated Hospitals of GMC Srinagar and they alleged that they are being meted out with the unjust treatment by the authorities as the nurses working at SKIMS are getting suitable salary as per the norms.
Few years ago, the nurses under the banner of J&K Nursing Association (JKNA) carried out strike to press for their demands. However, after the assurances from the Government, they called off the strike. The nurses said that even after the assurances, nothing is being done for them. The situation is said to be the same for the nursing staff of Government Medical College, Jammu as well.
“We are degree holders with 4 year training and we are getting the salary of paramedics who are with 18 months of training. We have been put in that grade; it is a sheer injustice,” Parveen Khan, President Jammu & Kashmir Nursing Association (JKNA) told Excelsior.
The issue of allowances and the mismatch in the pay grade is not the only issue. The nurses are also demanding that the number of posts in the hospitals-which has not been increased since decades must be given a second thought. “The creation of posts is the same as it was years ago. The bed strength is increasing with every passing day while as the staff is the same,” the nurses said.
While the nursing staff-in other institutions in J&K as well as outside J&K-is getting due allowances like medical allowances, washing allowances, risk allowance but on the contrary, the nursing staff working in GMC and Associated Hospitals are getting nothing in the name of allowances.
“It is already a tough job and for dealing with the occupational hazards, we were to be given the allowances, but nobody is taking us seriously whatsoever,” they said.
As per the technical grade, the nurses should get Rs 4260 at entry level, however, they have been put in the pay grade of Rs 2400. “The basic qualification of the paramedic is 10th, on the contrary we are way beyond them, but the Govt kept us in the same category; it is just not our pay grade,” they rued.
An official in the Health Department told Excelsior that the administration was aware of the issues and that a proposal with regard to their demands and the creation of the posts is lying with the Government.
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