Nurses continue their stir despite ESMA

The agitation by nurses under the banner of the United Nurses Association of Punjab entered its fourth day here on Monday, with the protesting staff vowing to continue their struggle for their Rs 4,600 grade pay.

Tension escalated after the state government, through the Department of Medical Education and Research, imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on September 27, directing striking nurses to immediately resume their duties. The nurses union, however, termed the move as unjustified.

Addressing the media at the protest site in Government Medical College here, state chairman of the association and district president of GMCH Nursing Association, Ramanjit Singh Gill, said that the government’s claim of emergency services being disrupted was “factually wrong”. He insisted that emergency services in all medical colleges were continuing without interruption. “We have suspended only routine services, not emergency care,” Gill clarified.

He also rejected the government’s contention that the strike had been launched without notice. “For the last four years, we have been writing letters and reminders to the government about our demands. Even before this agitation, two reminders were sent, clearly warning that if our legitimate demand for grade pay was ignored, we would be forced to intensify our struggle,” he said.

Union leaders accused the government of adopting a dictatorial approach by slapping ESMA on the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. “A government that claims to follow the ideals of Bhagat Singh has chosen this day to curb our democratic protest,” they said.

State president of the association, Aarti Bali, declared that the nurses would not bow to government pressure. “We will continue our fight with strength. If needed, we are prepared to court arrest and fill the jails,” she warned.

The protesters reiterated that their movement is not just for pay but also to safeguard the dignity of the nursing cadre, and vowed to carry on until their demands are met.