Protest of Nursing Unemployed suspended on Govt assurance
By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 13 May: The 60-day long agitation by unemployed nursing candidates in Uttarakhand demanding year-wise recruitment was finally suspended on Wednesday after the State government assured the protesters that their demands would be considered with positive approach. Congress Mahila Pradesh President Jyoti Rautela along with four nursing aspirants has also climbed down from the water tank at Survey Chowk after remaining atop the structure for nearly 60 hours, bringing relief to the administration and emergency services personnel deployed at the site.
It may be recalled that the nursing aspirants under the banner of Nursing Ekta Manch Uttarakhand had been staging a protest for nearly five-and-a-half months demanding implementation of year-wise recruitment in the nursing sector. However, with no concrete decision emerging on their demands, the agitation intensified three days ago. The situation escalated further when president of Uttarakhand Mahila Congress, Jyoti Rautela along with several nursing candidates also climbed atop the water tank at Survey Chowk, triggering panic within the administration. Not only this, today, Rautela also tried to create a scene by attempting to self immolate but others prevented this.
The protest witnessed tense scenes over the past three days as one of the demonstrators atop the tank allegedly poured petrol on himself during the agitation. Hundreds of protesters gathered below the tank and blocked the road in support of the agitation, while several demonstrators reportedly fell ill during the protest. Considering the seriousness of the situation, Director General of Health Dr Sunita Tamta had also reached the protest site yesterday evening and held detailed discussions with the nursing aspirants.
Despite prolonged talks between the Health Department and the protesters, no immediate resolution could initially be reached. Dr Sunita Tamta assured the agitators that a proposal regarding their demands would be prepared and forwarded to the government for consideration.
However, the protesters initially refused to climb down from the tank even after the assurance, following which the DG Health returned from the site. However, after fresh assurances on Wednesday, from the Government regarding examination of their demands, the nursing aspirants agreed to suspend their agitation for one month. Following the decision, Jyoti Rautela and the four other protesters who had remained atop the water tank for around 60 hours were safely brought down with the assistance of SDRF and Fire Service personnel in the presence of police and administrative officials.
As the protesters climbed down, slogans in support of Jyoti Rautela were raised by those gathered at the site. The demonstrators were welcomed with flower garlands, during which Jyoti Rautela became emotional. Several Congress leaders, including Uttarakhand Congress President Ganesh Godiyal, were also present at the protest site.
Meanwhile, responding to the demands raised by the nursing aspirants, Health Minister Subodh Uniyal said that the memorandum submitted by the unemployed nursing candidates would be examined by the government. He said the protesters had also submitted a government order issued in Himachal Pradesh and that order too is being studied. He added that the matter would be examined during departmental discussions. However, he made it clear that today’s cabinet meeting did not discuss the issue and that there was no agenda related to nursing recruitment before the Cabinet meeting.
