Nurses go on strike in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL - Around 2,500 nurses in government hospitals of Madhya Pradesh struck work Monday, demanding a hike in salary and improvement in work conditions, even as the state government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on nursing services for three months.

“Along with other demands, salaries at par with sixth pay commission recommendations have already been accepted for nurses. ESMA has been invoked in view of the agitation. Strict action will be taken against the striking nurses,” state Health Minister Mahendra Hardia said.

However, Madhya Pradesh Nurses Association coordinator Laxminarayan Sharma termed the strike as “mass leave”.

We informed government about going on mass leave long ago. Now, we are going for it,” he said.