Indore (Madhya Pradesh): At a time when siblings across the country are excited about the approaching festival of Rakshabandhan, a group of women nursing students in the city is fighting for employment.
The BSc nursing graduates from the 2018–2023 batch of Government Nursing College have been facing unemployment for the past two years despite a government promise of assured appointment.
On the 12th day of their protest, the students sought help from state Congress president Jitu Patwari, who met them at his residence. Patwari expressed solidarity with them and assured that the issue would be raised forcefully.
“Chief minister Mohan Yadav must take immediate cognizance of this issue,” he said. “These women deserve what was promised—jobs, dignity and a future.”
The protest, which began on July 24 outside the dean’s office of MY Medical College, has seen several escalations. On July 26, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) joined the agitation, submitted a memorandum, and issued a warning of intensified protest, including symbolic effigy burning, if the demands were not met.
Despite repeated submissions of memorandums to the dean and director of medical education, only verbal assurances have been received. No official steps have been taken so far to initiate the appointment process.
The students are demanding immediate issuance of appointment letters for the post of staff nurses as per the promised pay scale of Rs 5,200–Rs 20,200 and grade pay of Rs 2,800.
“We came to Indore from different districts with hopes of building a secure future. Instead, we find ourselves entangled in a web of administrative negligence. We were bound by a government bond that assured us employment as nursing officers after completing our four-year course and training. But even after two years, not one of the 108 of us has been appointed,” said Sandhya Patel, a protester.
