DIMAPUR:
The three-day mass casual leave protest by the Nagaland In-service Doctors Association (NIDA) ended on April 20. The in-service doctors had called for the protest to demand an increase in their superannuation age from 60 to 62 years and was launched on April 18 after the expiry of the Nagaland government’s assurance to resolve their demand within one year.
The NIDA had earlier said it will go for indefinite cease work after its three-day mass casual leave if the state government fails to address its demand. The state cabinet will hold a meeting to discuss the matter on April 21.
Sources said that the NIDA will take its next course of action after the cabinet meeting.
The protest, however, had a moderate effect on the health services system of the state. While OPDs in government hospitals and health centres across the state remained closed during the three-day protest, emergency services were in operation.
Earlier on April 19, Nagaland chief secretary J Alam held a meeting with the NIDA but it had ended in a stalemate.
Notably, the doctors went ahead with their three-day protest despite the state government’s warning of penal action against them.
On April 16, the state government had asked the state health and family welfare department not to grant casual leaves to doctors. In a statement, chief secretary J Alam had referred to Rule 25 of the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968, and had stated that it prohibits government servants’ participation in strike, mass casual leave or any form of abetting a strike.
The government had also maintained that maintenance of public health and sanitation, including hospitals and dispensaries, are essential services under the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978.
The government also set up a state-level control room with a dedicated helpline for coordination and real time monitoring of the situation in the state in view of the doctors’ strike.
Alam directed the deputy commissioners to hold meetings with available private hospitals and health care providers to work our modalities for management of OPDs and referral cases from the government facilities as and when required among other measures.