ANMs employed at village, ward secretariats in A.P. demand promotion

The Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) employed at village and ward secretariats staged a hunger strike at the Mahatma Gandhi statue near the GVMC administrative building on Monday, demanding that they be promoted as Multi-Purpose Health Assistants (MPHAs).

Participating in the protest, Andhra Pradesh United Village and Ward Secretariats Health Secretaries Welfare Association honorary president Jaganmohana Rao alleged that the authorities concerned were indifferent towards the problems of the ANMs.

“The government took a decision one and a half years ago to promote the Grade III ANMs who are working in the village and ward secretariats as MPHA(F) in the Medical and Health Department. However, it is yet to be implemented in the North Andhra districts,” said Mr. Jaganmohana Rao.

Although the issue was brought to the notice of the officials concerned and the District Collector on several occasions, no action has been taken, he said and sought immediate action in this regard.

He demanded that ANMs who have been transferred during the recent counselling should be allowed to continue in their original place of posting.

Alleging that measures were being taken to transfer the ANMs on the pretext of a ‘re-deployment’ exercise, Mr. Jaganmohana Rao sought that it should be immediately stopped.

He alleged that ANM s were being threatened with salary cuts if they declined to work in other departments. Referring to G.O. no. 124, he said the Government Order states that the services of ANMs should not be utilised by other departments.

Union district president Subhashini demanded that the ANMs working in secretariats should be brought under the purview of the Medical and Health Department. Those who undergo GNM training should be appointed as the Staff Nurse, she said.

Union honorary president Mani alleged that a health official in Visakhapatnam district was abusing the ANMs during online meetings and demanded action in this regard. Union State secretary Ch. Satyanarayana also spoke.

Later, the union leaders submitted a memorandum to the District Collector at the PGRS. The union leaders said that the Collector had directed the DM&HO to look into the issue and the latter agreed to complete the promotion process within a week.