CUTTACK: The Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) at Olatpur has plunged into a crisis with employees of the institution resorting to a complete ceasework protesting non-fulfilment of demands.
With over 250 employees, particularly in the vital sections like paramedics, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, attendants and ward staff going on strike from Monday, all services including the indoor and the outdoor along with the academics wing have been paralysed. The employees had been on the warpath since the first week of this month wearing black badges and holding demonstration to press for their demands of pension, pay revision and career progression before deciding on total strike.
As both the Director and the Deputy Director have gone on medical leave, the institution has been rendered directionless, prompting the heads of the departments to advise the inpatients to leave for their homes and return after the situation normalises. Surgeries have also been put off.
The 100bed hospital is the only of its kind rehabilitation institution in the State. While it has full occupancy in indoor admissions, average attendance is around 500 a day.
The staff have resorted to agitation demanding provision of pension as per the bylaw of the institute formulated after its former being the Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation was taken over by the Central Government and converted into Nirtar in 1984. There was an agreement between the Government of India and employees to this effect, which has been discarded, said general secretary of Nirtar Employees Union Chitta RanjanMohanty.
The Hospital Patient Care allowance given to employees of all Central Government Health Institutes has been discontinued for Nirtar since February last year. "What has affected the employees most, however, is nonfixation of pay as per the stipulated pay scale despite the orders of the Orissa High Court. The High Court has directed the Government to revise the pay and extend arrears with effect from 1984 but it has gone unheeded. The change of recruitment rules and implementation of cadre restructure as directed by the Fifth Pay Commission is still pending," Mohanty alleged.
As the institute struggles headless, those put in temporary charge have rushed SOS to the Union Health Ministry but met with rebuttal, sources said.