Maharashtra / Over 5,000 nurses of govt-run hospitals go on 48-hour strike in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Maharashtra government is yet to resolve the woes of Asha workers who are on indefinite strike and the nurses of state-run hospitals have now gone on a 48 hours strike.

More than 5,000 nurses of Maharashtra's state-run hospitals are on an indefinite strike from today onwards. The nurses protested for a couple of hours for the last two days but didn't hear anything from the govt. So from today, they are on an indefinite strike. They have demands related to their allowance and workload.

As per these nurses, despite vacancies, new recruitments are not happening in the state so the existing nurses are left to bear all the workload. The nurses are not getting leaves because of Covid. They don't get permission for higher studies. Most importantly, they are ot getting their nursing allowance.

The nurses claim that central govt deputed nurses and nurses at other states are getting the nursing allowance which was announced in the 6th pay commission. But Maharashtra govt nurses are not getting this allowance. As per these nurses they are eligible for a monthly allowance of Rs 7,200, which they are not getting

The nurses claim that before the strike, they wrote to the govt several times but no one paid any heed to their issues.

In Mumbai, the impact of this strike is going to be on JJ hospital, St George hospital, and GT hospital.

Around 65,000 Asha workers of the state are on indefinite strike since 15th June. And despite having meetings with Maharashtra's health minister Rajesh Tope, their demands are not that met.

Now this nurses' strike will impact the day-to-day medical functioning in the state even more.