All India Govt. Nurses Federation

Importance and journey of Nurses in “Health Care Delivery System” Not possible to achieve the goal of “Health For All” in India without NURSES…….

“WHO” says —-

“Nursing” is an independent profession and has its own identity…..

“All India Govt. Nurses Federation” is an Umbrella organization and the only National level Federation ,where number of Associations, Unions and Federations are affiliated with it and  works for the Welfare of Nursing professionals and the profession in India as well as abroad and also represents India and Indian Health Sector abroad. “All India Government Nursing Federation” is working with an aim to make nursing as a developed profession from developing profession with a vision – “One nurse,One work,One pay”.

The main objective of AIGNF is to establish the standard of nursing in India at par with international norms and level.

Earlier nurses were living in the state of social status where she is recognized as “wearing a white uniform with an injection and following doctor orders in the hospital”. Nursing profession was originated in foreign land. It was adopted in India and is now the largest single female professional category in country‘s health services. The Nursing profession in India has expanded considerably since independence. Along with this expansion diversification of nursing profession in medical care is getting added to the already expanded role of nursing personnel with changing health profiles of individual and that of the country. Nurses have successfully diversified their role by taking care of high risk and vulnerable groups such as mothers and new borns, under five children, adolescents, elderly people, mentally challenged persons etc. Nurses are accessible even where the doctors are not available for providing care at the doorsteps (e.g. immunization, ambulatory dialysis etc.)Whatever may be the level of advancement the focus of nursing activities is predominantly centered on prevention aspects, i.e. health education counselling and behaviour change communication. Nurses play an important role in effective management of the cost of health care services, at all level of health care, grass root to  advanced level and the list goes on. Care and maintenance and direct patient care is the prime responsibility of nurses includes health education towards self-health care activities, family counselling on contraceptive choice, teaching self- help skills to patients with chronic illness e.g. taking insulin injection etc. As compared to developed countries the nurse patient/population ratio in India is not adequate. The nurse to population/ patient ratio is 1:2250 as compared to 1:1400, 1:1100 and 1:850 in African counties, Sri Lanka and Thailand respectively. Whereas in developed countries the ratio is 1:100-150.Some of the major reasons for mismatched ratio are, inadequate number of nurses being trained, migration, vacant posts and non-creation of posts. This in turn leads to low morale, demoralization and dissatisfaction, among nurses. The work stress adversely affects the work performance of the nursing staff in the hospitals. The quality of nursing services provided by them does not match the expectations of the patients, their family members and other health care team members which is very frustrating for them. NURSING PROFESSION IS THE BACKBONE OF COUNTRY‘S HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

Does anyone think on these issues before developing any health program and Health policy?

• – Why our 16.7 lakh nurses voices are not given importance?
• – What are the responsibility of nurses in improving health status of this country?
• – What is the nurse’s status in the society and why?
• – Why nurses are not involved in planning and policy making?
• – India is the country producing highest number of nurses but how many theories did we contribute? What is our contribution to this profession?
• – How do nurses strengthen their organizations and expand the ambit of current nurses’ unions?
• – Why and how should nurses correct the problems in their profession to the larger issue of deteriorating public health system?
• – How the nurses can contribute to the health movement in the country?
• – How can the nurses contribute the patient’s rights in India?
• – How can the nurses play a critical role in strengthening and reforming the health care system in the country?
• – How can the nurses contribute to ethical and rational medical care which is an area of huge malpractices?
• – How can the nurses take up issues of their wages, work atmosphere and sexual harassment related issues in India as part of their rights?
• – There are many more challenges and issues presently pertaining to nursing profession which are also part of our health system and society. Some of them are as follows:
• – Contractual and outsourcing nurse’s recruitment not only in public but also in private hospitals.
• – No regulation on the nurse patient ratio in the health care setups.
• – Exploitation of the nurses in the private health care sector (ranges from work place dignity to the financial benefits).
• – Recruitment of the untrained nurses in the private hospitals.
• – Nursing profession as an overseas job market
• – Safety and security

There is very long journey travelled by “All India government Nursing Federation” with hand in hand with” Delhi Nurses Union” for giving breath to nursing profession .

It was the year 1967 when Mrs. G. K. Khurana joined the hospital services as staff nurse in Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital which was known as Willington Hospital, after completing her General Nursing Training from mission hospital in Punjab. The working condition was very poor and not favorable to elicit her performance at optimal level.

• – Pay Scales were very low in comparison to the Education and working environment.
• – Many times nurses had to do double duties without prior information due to shortage of staff. The strength of staff was very low to meet the challenges of hospital services.
• – Nurses were given only 4 days off in one month in spite of long working hours. Gazetted and national holidays were not even granted to them which were a total violation of human right.
• – Long Working Hours 54-70 hrs. in a week, 90 hrs. in case of Night duty.
• – No Provision was there for Nurses to allot family accommodation either from estate office or hospital pool. Nurses who were married used to face great problem to get accommodation near hospital, to reach for their duty on time in odd hours.
• – Safety and security was another problem in the long list.
• – No justified participation of nurses was recorded in making rules and regulations for the smooth functioning of hospital.
• – Nursing profession was not recognized as an independent profession as in other countries.
• – There were No promotional avenues for nurses.

As it is always said: `NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION”

After continuous suffering, with lots of problem and pain we weren’t able to find any solutions. We started watching the working pattern of some unions and associations struggling for their rights. We were thrilled and anxious to see their achievements and success. After observing this for a long period as woman has more patience, this situation started bothering day and night to Mrs. G.K. Khurana and she started thinking that – why can’t we fight for our rights if others can`? Initially she worked with Group C&D for some time and learned many things. She started our union in the year of 1975 under the name of “Willington hospital Nurses union “which was later on expanded and joined by Nurses of all central Government hospitals and renamed as “Central Government Nurses Association” . This continued till 1986.Again in 1986 another milestone was set and our family got enlarged and Nurses from Delhi Government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), ESI, AIIMS, Railways and PGI Chandigarh joined their hands together to fight for justice and formed the“ Joint Action Committee.’’

It was the golden year in the history of Nursing, when “Delhi Nurses Union” got registered in 1988. Another great event also happened in May 1988 when “All India Government Nurses Federation” was constituted and registered. These two platforms gave strength to the Nurses across India to stand up and fight for justice. Ever Since then we decided to never look back. Because of our strength and unity we are still fighting for our due rights in the Nursing Profession.

We have achieved many due rights but there is still a long way to go. It’s our strength and unity that gifted us the Success for our fight for justice, so our future lies in united together.

ACHIEVEMENTS of AIGNF

These are some of recalled and recollected achievements made by “Delhi Nurses Union “since 1986………..

Nursing Allowance— Nursing allowance was introduced in 1988 i.e. Rs.150 which was enhanced to  Rs. 4800 p.m in 2013 and from 1st July 2017 onwards it will be Rs. 7200 per month. There is still scope of fight to get it either converted as a part of the Pay or placed in risk matrix.

Uniform and Washing allowance — Uniform allowance and Washing was also increased from Rs.150 to Rs 1200 in 2013. From 1st July2017 onwards it will be 1800 p.m

Day off and national holiday— As per working hour norms per week was fixed and day off were calculated and increased accordingly to 8 days in a month from 4. Three national holidays were also sanctioned

Sanction of Extra Staff— As  hospital is a 24×7×365 working unit the finance ministry was also  recommended the provisions to have 45% of the staff as per days off in addition to 10% leave reserve. As a result recruitment of extra staff was sanctioned for better patient care.

High Power Committee on Nursing and Nursing Profession—As India is a developing country and Nursing profession was in developing stage in 20th century, The Government of India formed a High Power Committee on Nursing and Nursing Profession. This committee was to review the Nursing profession ,as Nursing profession has the ability and responsibility in the Health care system. The committee made many recommendations which were adopted by Government of India and by other state Governments. The recommendations benefitted the Nursing profession in many ways of in improving health of society. As High power committee Member’s recommendation on Patient-Nurse ratio were made. Because of this , many post were created at every level accordingly and workload was reduced. Lots of new posts were created and jobs were made available to the nurses.

Increase in Employment – Man power norms were made as per the 1990 agreement after a study conducted by Ministry of Finance, Government of India and later adapted by the Ministry. This created many posts at entry level as well as promotional level.

Promotions – after implementation of manpower norms many posts were generated at higher and entry level. Lots of stagnation was reduced. Nurses got promotions at higher level.

House Rent Allowance to Unmarried Nurses; House rent allowances were not paid to unmarried nurses. As a result they were forced to stay in nurse’s hostel even if their families were resident in Delhi. After our agitation,
house rent allowance were paid to such nurses

Accommodation – Nurses colony was built by Government of India and was allotted to 413 nurses in 2006. This colony is a good example in the entire continent. Some portion of hostel of Safdarjung hospital were converted in similar accommodation and allotted to married nurses. Government accommodation from state office was also allotted to Nurses. Now mainstreaming of nurses is done for accommodation.

Uniform Code – Modern nursing profession originated on foreign land .The uniform code was also on similar ways. Many of our nurses were not comfortable with it. Uniform code was changed with the Indian dress code. Again we had a long and hard struggle for it. We are still fighting for cause but some state governments are still against it.

Qualification Allowance – Qualification allowance was started and given to all those nurses who are having additional qualification than basic recruitment rules.

Status of nursing profession in Indian societies; In 1995 a film was made under the name of DIL KA DOCTOR. This film had damaged the status of nurses in the society. A scene was enacted a nurse in a revealing dress, dancing and the doctor was looking through her bare legs. We had a great fight with the film maker and finally the scene was deleted and we got assurance that this will never happen in the future again. Again our profession got insulted in The Kapil Sharma show but got corrected after agitation.

Society is responding to the change and recognizing Nursing as an independent Profession and sending their male child for nursing education.  Earlier days girls were not even disclosing in society that they are in nursing profession. Even 6 th pay commission written in its report – Nurses and paramedical means they treated Nursing as a separate profession.

Directorate of Nursing – Directorate of Nursing was constituted in the Ministry of health and family welfare. This was a great help for nurses as higher authority has become more approachable and their voice reached to the Government in ease. Directorate of Nursing was sanctioned by government of NCT of Delhi also.

Budget for Nurses; Earlier there was no separate budget for nurse by the Government of India. An issue was raised in 1989 and now a separate budget has been sanctioned for the development of nursing profession and which has enhanced up to 2000 crore in 2013-2014.

Pay Scales – Pay scales were upgraded by 6thPay commission which is a result of our long and continuous fight which we’ve fought over the decades. Anomaly in one or two cadres are still pending with anomaly committee. The fight still is in the full swing.

Special pay – Special pay is also sanctioned for those nurses who are working in the specialized area.

National and State Awards for Nurses— Government of India had stopped recognizing nurse’s efforts after 1987. Due to our agitation, we have been successful in winning our status in their eyes. After 2007, nurses were honoured with national and State awards again.

ACP/ 3rd MACP for ANS – Recently the Government of India did a gross injustice to the Nurses by denying GP 6600 as 3rd MACP to all those who were in scale of ANS by promotion or ACP before 31-08-08. We moved to the tribunal and got justice. But the Government of India took Delhi Nurses Union to the Supreme Court .The Hon’ble High court and Supreme Court dismissed their plea and justice was given to us. This proves that truth always prevails.

Pay Parity

Public Health Branch of Delhi Nurses Union

Public health nurses of Delhi government were given lower pay scale as compared to Public Health Nurses  of Central Government. We had a very long struggle with both the Government Delhi as well as Central. Finally we got justice. Recently Public Health Nurses of Delhi government got 1st ACP scale as PB3 GP 5400.It’s a great achievement Still fighting to get the anomalies removed which have arisen after the implementation of 6th CPC such as Pay scale of ANS & DNS and Pay Fixation of Nursing Sister etc.

The All India Government Nurses Federation always stood with every Nurse who was in trouble not only in Delhi but in other parts of India too. There are many more achievements attained which is known by heart of every nurse. Now many people look forward to get justice as we are a source of inspiration for many nurses of India.

All India Govt. Nurses Federation works not only for nurses but also for society.

Its affiliated units Organizes –

Blood donation camps in every part of India, they themselves donate the blood and also spread awareness in society.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan  campaign is done many times in hospitals as well as in schools.

Organ donation awareness camp our affiliated unit arranges organ donation camp in hospital to counsel people to pledge their organ to be donated after death.

All these achievements are joint effort of Delhi Nurses’ Union and All India Government Nurses Federation.

Whatever we have achieved today has become possible only because of our unity, faith in honest leadership and continued struggle. We always do agitation for genuine things only and always considered by the Government of that time. It is pure coincident that all our demands are settled during BJP led Governments, previously it was Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee government who made nurses happy by accepting their demands. Now Health Minister J P Nadda is resolving all demands related to 7CPC and all that is happening due to positive attitude of secretaries of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.