Berhampur: Hundreds of nursing staff engaged in the Covid duty have staged an indefinite sit-in at the premises of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur demanding regularisation of their services.
Recently, the Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission floated a notification inviting applications from eligible candidates for filling up of 6432 vacant posts of nursing officers.
In view of this, the nurses who claim to have discharged their duties at MKCG Hospital as Covid Warriors, have now urged the government to provide them first priority for permanent appointment against the already created vacancy posts in Odisha.
Seeking necessary action in this regard, the nurses wrote a letter to CM Naveen Patnaik stating, “We have been discharging emergency service to the patients in the dedicated COVID-19 Hospital, MKCG MCH in Berhampur as staff nurses (currently designated as nursing officer) with sincerity and dedicated efforts. A few of our nursing officers reportedly got infected with COVID-I9 during their duty period. However, despite being in the frontline and having managed the pandemic situation so well, the government is not empathetic towards us, the Covid warriors.”
“We have been working selflessly for the government for the last 9 months. Each of us has worked hard and it is because of everyone’s contribution that red-zoned Ganjam is now a green zone. The government is aware of the efforts we have made during the crisis situation. There are 6432 vacant posts, and 3500-odd nurses in Odisha are awaiting regularisation. MKCG has a requirement of 240 nursing officers. Our only demand is our case should be prioritised and government should give us permanent employment,” said a protestor.
It is to be noted that patient care services at the departments are unaffected, as nurses haven’t withdrawn from their commitment to discharge duties at the hospital.