BHOPAL : About 150 men holding degrees in Nursing picketed at Neelam Park near Lily Cinema Square on Monday to protest the state government’s policy of recruiting only females as nurses After their earlier protest in July, they were told that appointment of male nurses will be made after two months. But in September, vacancies for only female nurses were advertised.
Anuj Pratap Singh Baghel, President, Nursing Students’ Association said that they had planned for a three-day picket but it was suspended for a month after a meeting with the Health Minister. “Despite the orders of the chief minister, males were not appointed as nurses. State Health Minister Narottam Mishra told us in a meeting on Monday that our file has been sent for cabinet approval and as soon it is cleared, appointments will start.”
According to the provisions of the Central Government, both male and female nurses should be appointed for NHM but in Madhya Pradesh, appointments of only female nurses are being made for the last two-three years. “About 4000 male nurses are unemployed in the state,” said Baghel.
No permission for protest, say police
The picketing by Nursing Students’ Association at Neelam Park was done without permission from the administration, said police. Inspector Shivlal Sharma, who was on duty at the spot, said that he had orders to disperse the protesters as they have not taken any permission. “Since they have been peaceful till now, we are not doing anything,” he said.
