RIMS Nurses to go on 'cease-work' strike from October 18

Imphal (Manipur), Oct. 16 (ANI): Nurses at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) have reacted strongly to the appointment of Laimayum Kullabati Devi as Nursing Counselor on deputation at the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The RIMS Nurses Association had earlier demanded revocation of the appointment on grounds that violated RIMS guidelines. "We have decided to launch cease work strike from today but as there are patients who need our service we differ it and stage protest demonstration so that patients do not face hardship", said a representative of RIMS nurses' Association. As per report L. Kullabati was serving as Deputy Nursing Superintendent at a hospital call Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi. She was recently appointed as Nursing Counsellor in the Physical Medicine and Rehab Department, RIMS, on deputation recently. "No such appointment has been made in the history of the RIMS, and as per the version of the director of RIMS, creating a post is a violation of the rules and regulations of the RIMS," said Priyadharhini Devi, the secretary of the RIMS Nurses' Association. She added that the association will continue its protests till October 17 and if the authorities failed to revoke Kullabati's appointment, then the association would launch a cease work strike. Professor A.K. Joy, the head of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, said the appointment of Kullabati is genuine and done according to instructions of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Priyadharhini Devi said Professor Joy was not telling the truth and that Kullabati's appointment was a clear case of favoritism. She also said that what is not known is that she was appointed on the ground that her husband also works in Manipur. (ANI)