PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Unemployed nursing graduates, under the banner of the Nursing Ekta Manch (NEM), will march towards the Chief Minister’s residence and perform a Gherao on January 19 to address their long-standing demands. As part of this action, they will also conduct a Samoohik Mundan (mass shaving) on the same day to emphasise their protest. NEM president Naval Pundir made this announcement during a press conference on Wednesday. The unemployed graduates have been demonstrating in Ekta Vihar for the past 41 days.
Pundir said that they have been conducting continuous protests since December 5 due to their unmet demands. Their demands include a transparent recruitment process and the selection of candidates based on the year-wise seniority of those who have completed their qualifying examinations, among other issues. He said that they had previously met with CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat for their demands and the authorities assured them that their concerns would be addressed. However, no tangible action has been taken so far, he said.
Pundir expressed that the assurances they received seemed to be merely verbal and that the plight of unemployed nursing graduates is being neglected. He stated that during the part of protest, he had met with various MLAs and ministers who have offered them written support for their demands.
He said that the CM residence gherao will involve a large number of unemployed nursing graduates from across the State. Pundir said that the State government should make a positive decision soon, considering the futures of nursing candidates and the health system of the State. If not, the movement may escalate further.
