ANMs sit on hunger strike to protest non-payment of salary

Patna: Over 500 auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM) sat on a three-day hunger strike on Thursday near Gardanibagh hospital to protest against the non-payment of their salaries for the past several months.
“More than 10,000 ANMs employed in different districts of the state are likely to have a dark Diwali this time. If their salaries are not disbursed by Saturday, they will intensify the agitation,” said Bihar Medical and Public Health Employees’ Association general secretary Vishwanath Singh.
Rosmariam Lakra, a nurse posted at Gaya’s J P Hospital, rued, “I hail from a poor family in Simdega district of Jharkhand and live in a rented house. I do not have enough money to meet my daily expenses as I have not received my salary for six months. My elderly parents and younger sister are dependent on me. I wonder what the government is doing.”
Purnima Kumari, another nurse posted at a primary health centre in Samastipur district, said, “October and November are festive months. Diwali and Chhath mean a lot to us, but I haven’t been able to buy essential commodities that will be required during these festivals due to the non-payment of salary.”
The plight of Mina Kumari, who has an unemployed husband and a son studying at Gopalganj’s Sainik School, is no different. “We have been working sincerely for years, but we need something in return. How can the government be so indifferent,” she asked.