In a significant development, the protesting nursing staff at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad have decided to temporarily put their planned escalation of agitation on hold. This decision came on Wednesday after the NIMS Nurses Union received direct assurances from the state's Health Minister, Damodar Raja Narasimha, that their core demands would be resolved in the coming days.
Minister's Assurance Halts Escalation
Following over a week of sustained protests, union representatives held crucial discussions with Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha. According to the union, the minister provided a firm commitment, agreeing to their demands in principle. He informed the nurses that some related files had already been sent to the concerned departments for processing.
The minister assured the agitating staff that the remaining administrative procedures would be completed swiftly, with formal government orders expected to be issued within two to three days. This direct intervention led the union to defer its call for an intensified agitation, which was looming over the premier medical institute.
Silent Protest Continues with Black Badges
Despite deferring the major agitation, the nurses' union has clarified that their protest is not completely over. As a mark of continued dissent and to keep pressure on the administration, nursing officers will continue to wear black badges while on duty.
This silent and peaceful protest will persist until the written orders addressing their demands are officially issued and received. The union has assured that regular patient care duties will not be disrupted during this period, ensuring hospital operations continue smoothly.
Core Demands of the Nursing Staff
The agitation by the NIMS nursing officers was driven by a long list of unresolved issues affecting their professional and personal lives. Their primary demands include:
- Addressing critical staff shortages by filling all vacant posts to reduce excessive workloads.
- Restoration of medical benefits for the parents of contract nursing officers.
- Implementation of earned leave encashment, a benefit already approved by the NIMS executive board.
- Conducting a cadre review and ensuring appropriate status and pay scales for lecturers at the NIMS Nursing College, aligning them with AIIMS standards.
- Resolution of pending service benefits and promotions that have been delayed for years.
- Ensuring basic welfare facilities and proper staffing norms are met.
- Implementation of enhanced gratuity of Rs 16 lakh as notified in GO 56.
- Granting of 3-month maternity leave as per GO 209, a provision they claim remains unimplemented despite repeated requests.
The nurses expressed frustration that these issues, which impact their dignity, financial security, and ability to provide care, have remained unaddressed despite numerous representations to the authorities.
Path Forward and Expectations
The next few days are now critical for the hospital administration and the state health department. The nursing community in Hyderabad and across Telangana is watching closely to see if the assurances given by Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha translate into concrete action and official orders.
The temporary deferment of the agitation provides a narrow window for the government to fulfill its promise. A failure to issue the formal orders within the stated timeline could likely lead to an immediate and more severe resumption of the nurses' protest, potentially affecting healthcare services at NIMS.
