Nurses of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI) have been on hunger strike for the 20th consecutive day with nurses claiming that the hospital administration continues to “resort to threats rather than productive negotiation.”
“Nurses are taking turns to sit on hunger strike for 24 hours each. We have resolved not to give up our struggle until a written assurance is given by the VPCI administration that the nursing staff’s pay grade will be according to Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme for Central Government Civilian Employees (MACP) and other emoluments will be henceforth calculated,’’ noted a release issued by the nurses.
VPCI is an institution attached to Delhi University and its funding source is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
The permanent nurses of VPCI have not been paid emoluments under the MACP since the adoption of the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission.
They also continue to be denied bonus, timely promotions, as well as special allowances such ICU allowance, OT allowance, etc, said the nurses on protest.
Kim Ngaihte from VPCI Nurses Union said: “The problem of MACP is occurring due to the fact the Institute has been recruiting staff nurses without proper sanctions from health ministry for recruitment of nursing cadre.
“Due to this discrepancy the sixth pay commission recommendations are not being fully implemented and things are continuing in an ad hoc manner, affecting existing nurses badly.” The concerns of the nurses and their decision to strike are being endorsed by the members of the women’s organisation, Centre for Struggling Women (CSW) and Delhi Nurses Union (DNU).
“It is a huge discrepancy that the nurses have to fight for proper implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations at a time when the recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission are close to being implemented.
Another discrepancy is the withholding of permanent recruitment of nurses in VPCI since 2006 — a practice which has been increasing the workload of the existing nursing staff and also denying ad-hoc/contract nurses secure jobs in VPCI,” said Fatima Chaudhary from Centre for Struggling Women.
The nurses union has been voicing their concerns and demanding parity with other government hospitals where nursing staff are granted MACP for over three years now.
“The nurses are challenging the decision of the VPCI administration to modify the Recruitment Rules of Delhi University in the case of other VPCI staff so as to facilitate MACP, promotions, etc, in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission, but not that of the nurses,” noted a release issued by the nurses union.
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute’s nurses have resolved not to give up until a written assurance is given by the administration that the
nursing staff’s pay grade will be according to MACP
