Mizo nurses threaten mass casual leave

Aizawl, Nov 21 (UNI) The Mizoram Government Nursing Service Association (MGNSA) has threatened a mass casual leave agitation to protest the state government's decision of reducing their monthly off-days from eight to four.

According to an agreement with the state government in 1996, the government nurses were entitled to eight off-days a month.

MGNSA president R Lalsangpuii said here today, ''Even with this agreement, we enjoyed lesser holidays as compared to other government employees. However, with this new roster, we will have to work 64 more days than other government employees.'' She also alleged that despite 47 days of overwork, the government nurses were being deprived of overtime allowance which employees under excise, police and transport departments were entitled to.

The nurses also underlined that they could not be compared with their counterparts in other states of the country because at the Aizawl Civil Hospital, one nurse looks after five patients, against the national norms of one nurse taking care of three patients.

''Moreover, Mizoram nurses are laboratory technicians, IV grades and record staff. We even undertake census,'' Ms Lalsangpuii said.

She also alleged that nurses working during odd hours were not provided adequate security and transportation.

The nurses also opposed the state government's recent decision that 17 nurses were enough to look after the 17 wards at the Aizawl Civil Hospital.

''If our grievances are not addressed immediately, we will be compelled to go on a mass casual leave strike next month,'' the nurses' president warned.

UNI