ANMs’ Protest Enters Second Day in Mulugu

DECCAN FREEDOM NEWS

MULUGU, DECEMBER 20

Contract Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) continued their protest for the second consecutive day, demanding regularization of their services and cancellation of the written test mandated by the government. As part of their 48-hour statewide protest, ANMs staged a demonstration in front of the DMHO office in Mulugu and spent the night at the protest site.

Addressing the gathering, CITU District Secretary Ratnam Rajender criticized the government for failing to honor its pre-election promise of regularizing contract ANMs. He pointed out that the previous government had formed a three-member committee to resolve the issues of contract ANMs, but the committee has yet to hold discussions or submit any reports. Meanwhile, the government issued a notification for ANM posts, requiring even those with over 20 years of seniority to appear for the test, which he deemed unfair.

Rajender emphasized that male health assistants in the same department were regularized without such tests, while female health assistants (ANMs) are being subjected to an examination, which he described as a grave injustice to experienced workers. He demanded the immediate cancellation of the written test and urged the government to regularize contract ANMs based on seniority. He warned of intensified statewide protests if the government failed to address their concerns.

Prominent participants included District ANM Leaders Jamuna Rani, Manjula, Pavani, Sujatha, Sugunavathi, Suryakanthamma, Aruna, Seetha, Sunitha, Geetha, Somalakshmi, Anuradha, Lakshmi, Shantha, Kausalya, Thirumala, Chandrakala, and Pushpalatha.