CHHATTISGARH’S Medical Education department Secretary P Dayanand (IAS) has talked to a delegation of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Swasthya Karmchari Sangh (CPSKS), which has earlier given a call of indefinite strike, scheduled to begin on July 4, observing that a number of demands that satisfy the employees of the state’s health services and medical education department have not been fulfilled by the state government over a long time.
After the strike call, CPSKS had informed all the concerned authorities along with the Secretary of the medical education department regarding the strike, and it was being expected by the association that concerned authorities would talk to the association office bearers in time.
CPSKS delegation, which talked to the medical education department secretary at the state secretariat Mahanadi Bhawan on last Friday, was comprised of the association Patron OP Sharma, State President Alok Mishra, General Secretary Ashwini Gurdekar, Senior Vice-President BK Shukla, CPSKS nurses’ cell In-Charge Nanda Rangari and Radiographer Cell State Convener Santosh Dewangan.
The demands list tabled in the meeting contained improvements in the pay-scale of the employees of medical education and AYUSH departments, regularisation of employees in the medical education department, 13- month payment in one calendar year to the employees of health department, wiping out the discrepancies in the pay pertaining to the Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Deputy Nursing Superintendent and Nursing Superintendent in the nursing cadre, stopping recovery of 3 to 4 incremental payments already given to the staff nurses, creation of promotion opportunities for single post workers, ten per cent radiation allowance to the radio therapy staff. Level-6 payment to all those vehicle operators who have heavy licence, creation of promotion opportunity for single cadre technical posts, Up-gradation of the course qualified by certificate-course holders and making it degree, making 65-year retirement age for medical college lab technologists like the teachers cadre, creation of Joint Director, Nursing and Deputy Director Nursing, posts at the Directorate of Medical Education, increasing the number of nursing and all technical staff as per relevant standards and reserving 25% post for promotions, are a few other demands.
Regarding the clerical cadre, CPSKS demanded that sufficient experience holding staff should be continued, and relaxation in the rules for once, and after that, filling up posts through promotions at the directorate level.
Regarding store keeper Para-clinical, it has been demanded by the association that they be considered as Pharmacist Grade-1 and their pay scale be revised. Taking action for promotion related to the post of Chemist was another demand. Reminding the standards laid down by the Medical Council of India, it has been demanded by CPSKS that pharmacy-degree holder should be made Chief of pharmacy department in the hospital.
Regarding part-time sweepers, who were taken in service before 1997 and still continuing as the same, it has been demanded that they be first made full-time workers, and then their services be regularised. It has been mentioned that part-time sweepers have been regularised at some places under the department.
After positive discussions on each and every point of the demands, the Medical Education department Secretary told CPSKS that the department is examining all the demands, and action will be taken at the possible earliest.
Soon after the meeting, CPSKS General Secretary Ashwini Gurdekar issued a press release, expressing the optimism that the demands would be fulfilled, and the association expressed its thankfulness to the Secretary.
CPSKS has confirmed that in case the demands are not fulfilled in time, then the indefinite strike from July 4 is certain, and all the preparations regarding the strike have been done. Thousands of employees from the Health department, Medical Education department, AYUSH department and National Health Mission have confirmed their participation in the strike.
