HYDERABAD: Auxiliary Midwives (ANM)s working as contract workers continued their dharna for the second day on the premises of the Directorate of Public Health in Koti demanding better pay and regularization.
As hundreds of ANMs gathered, police tried to stop them resulting in a tense situation on the main road of Koti but ultimately police decided to let the dharna continue.
The dharna continued till night and the ANMs said that they will march to the secretariat on Saturday.
The ANMs chanted slogans demanding that the promises made during the suspension of the previous strike be fulfilled. Director of Public Health, Dr. G Srinivasa Rao came to the agitators and held discussions with them and assured them that the government would release the salary arrears in a day or two. He said that the delay was due to technical reasons.
The ANMs demanded to be given gross salary. The state government has formed a committee to assess the possibility and a report is expected soon, the official said assuring that all necessary recommendations will be mentioned in the report to give justice to ANMs. The official tried to talk to the protestors twice through the day.
He asked the protestor to allow time till 16th of this month but the ANMs did not agree to the request and continued the dharna. “We will continue the dharna till the government releases the relevant government order,” said a protesting ANM.
While the police began arrests, as the number of protestors continued to increase, cops had to let the dharna continue. Protestors chanted slogans demanding a clear assurance and said that the they will march to the secretariat on Saturday.
