Bhopal: ‘We didn’t get married as stated in rule book, to get job. We followed all the conditions laid down by the state government but the government duped us and did not provide us the job it promised,’ said Kanti Sirsam- one of the protesting ANM on Monday.
More than 100 ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) gathered at Neelam Park on Monday to protest and demand the job that state government promised them before training them as nurses. Two batches of ANMs of 2013 and 2017 were on protest demanding 1610 and 700 posts advertised with the training schedule.
Tests were conducted through Vyapam in 2013 and 2017 for ANM training. The selected ones got training at various colleges across the state but are still waiting for jobs as promised by the government. “The training tests were announced only after vacancies in the department. Big question is then why did not they appoint us,” asked Hemlata Sen who came to wake up the government from Satna.
‘Not only me, there are several girls who didn’t marry only because it was mentioned in the rule book that one cannot marry or get pregnant during three years of training period,’ said Sabhya Lodhi. We were told not to apply for any other job or study after completion of the course, she added.
While we were waiting for our appointments, several other vacancies like teachers, patwaris were announced but we couldn’t apply for them as we were bound by the commitment given during training, said Saroj Prajapati, who came to protest from Junnardeo in Chhindwara district.
Another category of sufferers include women who were engaged as ASHA workers earlier. Finding ANM job as more lucrative, Ranjana quit as ASHA worker to land herself in jobless. “We have to fill a bond ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 as guarantee that we join the post after training.
Our marksheets were seized and the authorities made us sign bonds of Rs 30,000 to Rs one lakh,” said Sabhya. Several of us have now gone overage for any other job, she added. There is no leader of this movement and therefore no strategy has been decided yet. Some of the girls went to Vallabh Bhawan with hope to meet the health minister but could not, said Sonam Prajapti.
She said that she still get terrified remembering how previous government cane-charged them when they assembled at polytechnic square for protest. Denied permission to protest, we are now going back and will come back after forming proper strategy, said Kanti Sirsam.
