Odisha Health Minister urges nursing staff to withdraw strike

Bhubaneswar (25/09/2024): Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling has urged the nursing staff to withdraw their statewide strike, which began on Wednesday.

Even though the state government has implemented the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), the Odisha Nursing Staff Association called the strike, demanding fulfilment of their 10-point charter of demands including abolition of outsourcing system in the nursing sector, converting contractual workers to permanent employees, counting the six-year contractual period toward their permanent service and granting promotions to eligible nursing staff. Despite ESMA being in effect, the nursing staff proceeded with the strike.

Minister Mahaling assured that the state government is open to discussions and requested the staff to call off the strike.