Agitating employees of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal, resumed duties on Sunday following an agreement with the Manipur government.
The employees including doctors and nurses were on strike demanding implementation of the latest revised pay structures recommended by the Central 7th Pay Commission to JNIMS with notional effect from April 1, 2016 which cash payment effective from April 1, 2020. However, as per a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the three associations of the JNIMS employees and the state on Sunday, the state government agreed to implement the 7th Pay Commission in JNIMS with notional effect from April 1, 2016 as a special case. However, the implementation will start from April 1, 2021.
The state government agreed to fulfil the demands of the employees considering the special duties performed by the doctors, nurses and other staff of the JNIMS, the MoU stated. It added that, “This rare exception is made only in the wake of duties performed in tackling COVID-19 pandemic requiring extra hours of work and uninterrupted services, often at risk to personal life.” The MoU further stated that the agreement may not be cited as a precedent by other autonomous bodies, societies, PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) under the state government. JNIMS is run by an autonomous body –JNIMS Society with state chief minister as chairman.
The state government also agreed to consider the request of the Trained Nurses Association (TNA) for adoption of MACP (Modified Assured Career Progression) and uniform allowance on priority.
Following the agreement, the Teachers Association JNIMS, Trained Nurses Association and All Non-Teaching Staffs (AANTS) agreed to call off the protests with immediate effect, as per the MoU.
Mention may be made that after the state government offered implementation of the 7th ROP with effect from April 1, 2021 without notional effect, doctors and nurses had submitted their resignations en masse on last Thursday (April 8). However, the authority concerned had not accepted the resignations.