THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Department has sanctioned Rs 2.6 crore for paying salary to temporary nurses posted in various hospitals as part of the implementation of preventive measures against epidemics.
The amount was sanctioned following the directive of Human Rights Commission Chief Justice J B Koshy, a release issued by the Human Rights Commission’s office said.
The Health Department had appointed 55 nurses from the rank list of the staff nurses in various hospitals on a temporary basis.
The DMO had extended their service and salary was paid till March 2013 from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) fund. Since November 2013, the nurses were working without salary.
The DMO had submitted to the Commission that though the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) had been asked to pay the salary of nurses from the Plan fund, there had been no response.
Following this, the Human Rights Commission asked the Directorate of Health Services to pay the salary to the nurses within two months.
In case of any delay, they will have to be paid interest at the rate of 9 per cent. But, following the orders of the Human Rights Commission, the Finance Department sanctioned Rs 2.6 crore to pay the arrears.