Imphal, Aug 30: Following an agreement reached between the agitating nurses and RIMS authorities, the two day old cease work strike called by the former has been called off with effect from today afternoon.

The nurses, however will resume duty from tomorrow, said sources from the Trained Nurses Association of India, RIMS unit.

The agreement was reached following a meeting between representatives of the TNAI, RIMS unit and RIMS authority led by its Director Prof L Fimate today at his office chamber.

As put forward by the nurses, the meeting agreed to constitute a committee to explore the ways and means to facilitate the regularisation of 153 nurses who are currently engaged on contract basis.

The committee will be headed by Prof Th Ibohal Singh, HoD of Otorhinolaryngology, RIMS and it will submit its recommendations to the Director within one month of its formation.

It was also resolved that the recommendations of the committee will be placed by the Director for discussion in the meeting of the Executive Council.

With regard to the demand for equal pay equal work for the contract nurses, it was agreed that the matter will be placed in the next meeting of the Executive Council for consultation.

Following the agreements, the nurses agreed to suspend their cease work strike with effect from today.

It was also agreed that RIMS authority will not victimise any employee by initiating disciplinary action against the nurses who agitated.

An agreement to this effect was signed by RIMS Director Prof Fimate and President of the TNAI, RIMS unit, W Surodhoni Devi.

The meeting materialised following an intimation sent by the RIMS authorities to the agitating nurses.

Earlier before the meeting was held today, RIMS authority had sent an intimation to the TNAI, detailing the decisions taken with regard to the submissions made by the nurses.

The intimation dated Aug 29 and signed by Prof L Fimate said; Regarding appointment/regularisation of nurses against the regular vacant posts from amongst the nurses engaged on contract basis, the matter has been decided to be referred to the Law Department, Government of Manipur for obtaining legal views.

As already agreed, State of GPF Accounts for the years 2003-04 and subsequent years may be collected wef from December 1, 2006; Regarding payment of commuted value of pension, the intention of RIMS authority is to make such payment two times a year in which case the waiting period for any retired employee will not exceed six months from the date of retirement.

However, if the Association (TNAI) insists that such payment be made within one year from the date of the employee's retirement, the same is acceptable to the authority; As for the amendment in the Recruitment rule of the post of Public Nurse, the matter will be placed in the next meeting of the Executive Council, Society of RIMS, Imphal which is the competent authority to approve Recruitment Rules for the various posts in RIMS, Imphal; As intimated earlier, transfer of staff will be done in a phase-wise manner; As intimated earlier, repairing/cleaning of Septic tans has already been entrusted to Manipur Services Sanitary Division and the work at site already begun.

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