Jaipur, Aug 8 (IANS) Three contractual nursing staff members, who had climbed a nearly 90-foot-high water tank in Jaipur to press for their recruitment demands, came down safely on Saturday following assurances from health department officials.

A delegation of nursing staff will meet Health Department Principal Secretary Gayatri Rathore on August 10 to discuss their demands.

Rakesh Sharma, Director of Health (Non-Gazetted), reached the protest site in the Bajaj Nagar police station area around 6 p.m. and held discussions with the protesters.

Following his assurances, the three nursing staff members descended from the water tank.

The protesters were subsequently taken to Jaipuria Hospital for a medical examination.

The three contractual employees had earlier threatened to take the extreme step while atop the water tank.

They claimed to have a bottle of petrol and intensified their protest by setting a piece of cloth on fire on the tank, creating tension at the site.

Police and Civil Defence personnel remained deployed throughout the protest as officials attempted to persuade the protesters to come down safely.

Following discussions with the administration, it was decided that representatives of the contractual nursing staff would meet Principal Secretary Gayatri Rathore on August 10, to discuss their recruitment and service-related demands.

The Police also removed contractual workers who had gathered at the base of the water tank in support of the protesters.

Vimal Sharma (32), Robin Sharma (28), and Sanjita Chaudhary (30) had climbed the water tank inside the Jaipuria Hospital complex at around 3:40 a.m. on Friday. They remained atop the tank until Saturday evening.

A team from Civil Defence, along with police personnel, had been stationed at the site throughout the protest to ensure their safety and maintain law and order.

The protesters said that thousands of nursing and healthcare workers have been serving under various schemes and arrangements of the Medical and Health Department for several years but have not received the benefits associated with permanent government employment.

They claimed that employees working under National Health Mission, National Rural Health Mission, contractual arrangements, tender-based appointments, Urgent Temporary Basis, placement agencies, PPP mode, MRS, NGOs, 108 ambulance services, 104-Mamta, MMU, MMV and Janata Clinics, among others, have been serving for eight to 10 years or longer.

According to the protesters, despite their prolonged service, many of these workers continue to remain contractual and have not received the benefits of regular appointment.

The nursing staff have said they will continue to pursue their demands through discussions with the Rajasthan government, with the next round of talks scheduled for August 10.

–IANS

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