PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Following a recent incident involving physical aggression by women police personnel during a demonstration of unemployed nursing graduates, the Uttarakhand Mahila Congress organised a protest on Tuesday. Its members marched from the State Congress headquarters and culminated in a sit-in at the Police Headquarters, led by Mahila Congress Uttarakhand president Jyoti Rautela.
A number of unemployed nursing graduates also participated in this protest. The protesters climbed over barricades and burned an effigy of the State government. The unemployed nursing graduates, along with Mahila Congress leaders and workers, were eventually taken away in police vehicles and dropped off at the designated protest site in Ekta Vihar.
During the protest, Rautela stated, “This kind of humiliating and oppressive treatment of women seeking employment exposes the government’s insensitivity. Instead of listening to the voices of the youth, the State government is using its power against them, which contradicts our democratic values”.
She emphasised that the unemployed nursing graduates were demanding their rights and employment opportunities. However, instead of engaging in dialogue, the government responded with violence. This not only violates democratic rights but also reflects a repressive mentality toward women.
The Mahila Congress demanded immediate and strict action against the guilty police personnel, a high-level and impartial investigation into the incident and the implementation of a transparent recruitment process for the pending vacant nursing posts.
It warned of escalating the protest if immediate action is not taken on these issues. Among those present at the protest were Uttarakhand Congress’ chief spokesperson, Garima Dasauni, and senior vice president of Mahila Congress Asha Manorama Dobriyal, along with others.
Unemployed nursing graduates vow to continue protest till demands are met
DEHRADUN: The president of the Nursing Ekta Manch (NEM), Naval Pundir stated that the unemployed nursing graduates will continue their protest till the State government addresses their unfulfilled demands. The unemployed nursing graduates have been protesting since December 5 at Ekta Vihar and the protest continued on Tuesday as well. The unemployed nursing graduates, under the banner of NEM, are demonstrating due to several unresolved issues, including the need for transparency in the recruitment process for nursing officials, the immediate closure of the examination portal and the recruitment to over 2,500 nursing positions each year in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), among others. Pundir emphasised that their protest will continue till the government takes direct action on their demands.
Pundir and other unemployed nursing graduates also participated in the protest organised by the Mahila Congress on Tuesday.
