Manipur: RIMS nurses to go on cease work strike from Oct 18

Imphal: The appointment of Laimayum Kullabati Devi, as Nursing Counselor, on deputation at the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has created an uproar among the nurses at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

The nurses ,agitated over the issue have gone to the extent of asking the Authorities for the revocation of her appointment on the basis that it was in violation of the RIMS guidelines.

"We have decided to launch cease work strike from today but as there are patients who need our service we differ it and stage protest demonstration so that patients do not face hardship", said a representative of RIMS nurses' Association.

According to sources, L. Kullabati a Deputy Nursing Superintendent at Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, was recently appointed as a Counsellor in the Physical Medicine and Rehab Department, RIMS, on deputation.

"No such appointment has been made in the history of the RIMS, and as per the version of the director of RIMS, creating a post is a violation of the rules and regulations of the RIMS," said Secretary RIMS Nurses' Association, Priyadharhini Devi.

According to Ms. Devi if the authorities do not concede to the nurses demand of revocation of Kullabati Devi,they would go a step further and cease to work.

Professor A.K. Joy, the Head , Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, justifying the appointment said that Ms Kullabati’s appointment was genuine and had been done according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. However, the Secretary Nurses association countered the statement calling the ladies appointment as a clear case of favoritism. She also accused the transfer having been donwe to facilitate her stay with her husband who was posted in Manipur.