RIMS Ranchi senior staff nurses threaten strike

Jharkhand: RIMS Ranchi is looming under the threat of a strike by the senior staff nurses. The issue concerning them is the long delay in their promotions and also their outstanding amount of remuneration. 50 senior nurses have threatened to lock down the 1,088 bedded hospital from August 1, if their demand are not adhered to.

This group of 50 nurses has awaited the dynamic assured career progression (DACP) since 2010. As a first mark of their joint protest, the hospital's nursing Superintendent Vijay Lakshmi in the skin department was ghearoed recently. This 4-hr attempt was to put pressure on the Rims management. Nurses put an allegation that they did so since their repeated request to the hospital management has been delayed in the admin clerical section for unknown reasons.

Some of us have been awaiting for DACP for 15 years. We were due to get promoted in 2010 which never happened," one of the protesting nurses said to the media. Around 51 senior nurses in the hospital are awaiting promotions since 2010. The medical college hospital has 400 nurses.

Senior nurses also alleged in their implied statement that 16 nurses who were given appointment after their retirement in 2014 have since not been paid their monthly salary. They further alleged that more than 107 nurses, have not received their pension post retirement in 2001. Their situation is grim as few of them are facing serious health situation but have no money to deal with it.

Rims director BL Sherwal is reported be on a medical leave after a cardiac arrest. Rims sources have implied that the file regarding the matter of DACP has been shared forward with the clerical section, after the hospital management gave their consensus of creating new nursing post in the beginning of 2016.

"The clerical section is coming up with excuses saying the service books of the nurses cannot be located," said a source to TOI.

Rims interim director R K Srivastava implied further that their demands have not reached the Director office yet. The matter will be dealt with, so that everyone gets their dues.