Day 2: Sector 32 hospital nurses resent delay in issuance of NOC

A peaceful protest by the GMCH Nurses Welfare Association at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, entered second day today, with a strong participation from off-duty nursing staff.

The protesters gathered near Gate No 4 of the GMCH from 10 am to 4 pm and urged the administration to address their legitimate demands, particularly the timely issuance of no-objection certificate (NOC), whcih crucial for their academic and professional advancement.

At the heart of the protest is the delay in issuing NOC, which is preventing eligible nursing staff from participating in the upcoming second round of counselling at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. The counselling is expected to be held around August 15. The association has demanded NOCs for all qualified staff by August 8.

Despite the recruitment of over 180 nursing officers in recent years, the staff members, who are keen to pursue further studies, have been repeatedly denied NOC, hindering their professional growth. Association president Bhagwan Sahay Kumawat highlighted the frustration among the nurses over the administration’s silence and inaction, noting that the denial of study leave continues to obstruct their career progression.

The association also reiterated other long-standing demands, including the re-submission of a proposal under SIU norms for the creation of 332 posts in the nursing cadre, which is necessary to clear promotion backlog, and the revival of a previous proposal seeking the creation of around 50 posts of Assistant Nursing Superintendent and 180 posts of Senior Nursing Officer.

They also called for a dedicated office space with attached toilet and pantry facility for senior nursing officers, and the inclusion of association representatives in all nursing policy discussions, as agreed in a meeting held in 2012.

A charter of demands had earlier led to a meeting with the Director-Principal on July 4, but the minutes of the meeting are yet to be shared, raising further concerns among the nursing staff.

The association had initially planned to conclude the protest by August 7. However, it warned that if the demands were not met, the agitation will be shifted to Gate No 1 of GMCH from August 8 and it might be continued indefinitely.