12,000 nurses in Assam, 200 in Silchar temporarily withdraw their strike; further discussion on Dec 4

As per the latest news, The All Assam Nurses Association has decided to temporarily withdraw their strike with effect from 2 pm, November 30, 2018 (today). “The government has agreed to meet our first demand – one rank-one pay and assured us to discuss other demands including implementation of 7th pay commission. Following which, we have decided to temporarily withdraw our protest,” informs a senior member of the nursing association.

She further informs that the government has sent minutes to be discussed on December 4 and implementation of 7th pay commission is high up there in the agenda. “We have not called off our protest, we have just temporarily withdrawn it considering the medical situation and the government’s assurances. We will again start protesting if we see the need,” she adds.

On the other hand, president of the association Anjana Saikia has been asked to resign by the members of the nursing body. “She was managed by the government officials and ministers and yesterday she played for them while giving interviews to TV channel. Today, all the nurses across Assam signed a letter asking for her resignation,” informs the senior member of the association.

12,000 nurses all across Assam and 200 in Silchar participated in the mass protest fighting for their rights. Yesterday, reports emerged from Jorhat Medical College that an infant died due to unavailability of proper nursing services. The general secretary rebuts, “It is really sad that a baby died. My condolences to the family. But, it is unfair to blame the agitation. Babies die when nurses were there too. The government and health-care facilities should be blamed for the death and not the strike,” says Junu Chutia Dihingya, general secretary of All Assam Nurses Association.