Nursing staff’s protest over disparity in grade pay enters 5th day

The protest by nursing employees of Government Medical College (GMC) entered the fifth consecutive day today with staff demanding the restoration of grade pay of Rs 4,600. The agitating nurses said they were being discriminated against despite performing the same duties.

The protesters said the government had reduced their grade pay from Rs 4,600 to Rs 2,800 in 2021. Currently, those recruited in 2019 are receiving a grade pay of Rs 3,200, while nurses appointed from 2020 onwards are being paid only Rs 2,800. The employees argued that this disparity is unjust as they are doing identical work.

Gathering on the GMC campus, the nurses raised slogans and held placards demanding restoration of fair grade pay. They said such policies lower the morale of staff and discourage young professionals from joining the service.

“We work day and night, shoulder to shoulder with one another. But when salaries show this difference, it feels like our contribution is being ignored,” said Ramanjit Singh Gill, president of the union.

The employees urged the state government to take immediate steps to end the disparity. They warned that if their demands were not met, they would intensify their agitation in the coming days.

Patients visiting the hospital have begun to feel the impact of the protest as routine services are getting affected. Senior doctors are being forced to manage additional responsibilities due to the absence of nurses in certain wards.

Union representatives said they had already submitted memorandums to the Health Department, but no concrete action has been taken so far. They added that the protest would continue until the government makes a written commitment to resolve the issue.