By M M Special Correspondent
New Delhi : A t a time when the whole country is in the grip of cornovirus pandemic and healthcare workers are battling to save the lives of thousands of Covid patients, the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR) is busy settling score with its nursing staff. In a jiffy, the management of HIMSR has terminated all 84 nursing staff as their only crime was demanding PPE kits for their own safety.
Disregarding all the labour laws, the management has abruptly sacked all the nursing staff and even it has begun recruitment of new staff in their place.
“The Competent Authority has approved the extension in the contractual appointment for all the 84 nurses as per the list enclosed in the Annexure till 10th July 2020 only .All these nurses therefore stand relieved from 11th July 2020.”
“HIMSR, HAHCH may go in for a walk in interview sometimes. Those nurses who wish to seek fresh appointment can participate in interview as per advertisement appearing in HIMSR website www.himsr.co.in and prescribed guidelines.”
Violating its own statement
Surprisingly by issuing such notice the management has violated its own statement.
A notice by Prof. (Dr.) MirduDudeja , Dean HIMSR issued on 02/07/20 reads “due to on-going COVID- 19 pandemic and HAHC hospital being declared a COVID hospital , all concerned health care workers including doctors and nurses are hereby directed to refrain from sending applications for resignation/resignation notices or requesting leave without pay, citing personal reasons. Considering COVID 19 outbreak situation as a national emergency such requests will not be acceded”.
Within 24 hrs after the final notice the HIMSR issued another notice to recruit nursing staff on contractual basis.The interview for the same is scheduled on 13th and 14th July 2020.
Nurses start protest
Nurses came to know about their termination notice through WhatsApp message on Saturday evening. Feeling cheated by the management they started to protest on Monday as they were sacked without one month prior notice.They have been working during Covid pandemic. One Guhfrana who became corona positive was also terminated. Gufrana had to pay a 50% amount for the Covid test.
“We are being made scapegoats for raising our genuine demand. There is no drinking water for staff, no PPE kits etc. We complained about it but our demand fell on deaf ears” said Gufrana who became Covid positive during service.
Many of them are working from 5-10 years but are not entitled even for casual leave, she added.
This shows complete apathy of the management towards its staff. It threw all the norms and human values to the wind in sacking these nurses.
However United Nurses Association India has given its support to protesting nurses.