Mizo Students' Union
Mizo Students' Union members stage pritest in front of ZMC. (File image)

Mizoram’s influential students’ body Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) on Monday held picketing in front of Zoram Medical College (ZMC) at Falkawn, about 16 km from Aizawl.

The students’ union stopped the administrative staff of the medical college from attending their office in protest against the alleged anomalies in the recruitment of staff nurses.

The Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) functionaries also stopped newly-recruited nurses from submitting their joining reports.

The protesters were dispersed from the scene after the government assured them that disciplinary action would be taken against the persons responsible for the discrepancy in results and that voluntary nurses would be given preference.

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The Mizoram government and the Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) reached a five-point agreement, according to which probe would be launched to find out those responsible for the inclusion of candidates, who did not attend interviews, for recruitment as staff nurse in ZMC and legal action would be taken against them.

Among others, both sides agreed that disciplinary action would be taken against those, who used to intimidate the hired voluntary nurses, first preference to be given to eligible voluntary nurses for recruitment of 50 staff nurse in ZMC and those selected if fail to produce necessary documents within 20 days must be replaced by those kept at reserve panel.

The Mizoram government has drawn flak from different quarters recently over the alleged discrepancies in the recruitment of 50 staff nurses in Zoram Medical College.

It has been alleged that at least 3 candidates, who did not face interviews, were selected for the post, according to the results declared on October 4.

The recruitment was conducted directly through a walk-in-interview.

Earlier on October 7, the government has sought an explanation from ZMC director over the alleged discrepancies.

The director is yet to respond to it, highly placed sources said.

Hundreds of voluntary nurses, including 103 in ZMC, are currently hired by the Mizoram government to cope up with manpower crunch in view of Covid19 pandemic.

While inviting applications for voluntary nurses, the government in its advertisement issued in June had allegedly stated that the hired voluntary nurses would be given first preference when they apply for government jobs.