Gujarat nurses union threatens stir Saturday, September 8, 2001
( PTI )
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Nurses Union (GNU) has threatened to intensify its agitation if the state government did not favourably respond to its demands for better wages and allowances for nursing staff by September 16.
GNU president Narendra Modi said here on Friday that about 10,000 nurses in government run hospitals throughout the state have begun a "protest movement" from September 1 to press for demands for pay parity with their central government counterparts and hike in allowances.
He said their main demand concerned removal of anomaly in the basic salary of nursing staff to bring it at the level of that of central government employees, and enhanced allowances under the sectoral heads of nursing, washing and uniform.
The GNU, which on August 21 had intimated the state government of its intention of launching an agitation for its demands, would be chalking out its next course of action on September 16, Modi added.
From September 1 onwards, the nursing staff had begun a symbolic protest and were wearing black badges, the GNU president said.
"So far the state government has not shown any inclination to hold negotiations in this regard with us," Modi said.
"If nothing concrete shows up, then we plan to work without white uniform from September 10 to 16, when the decision to intensify the stir would be taken by the GNU's executive council", Modi added.
News Source : Times News Network [ Lightning News ]
Meeting on fishermen cancelled Friday, September 7, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
SURAT: The fishing row between Gujarat and Maharashtra has shown so signs of thawing as the scheduled meeting in Mumbai on Thursday between the authorities of the two states was cancelled as Maharashtra officials expressed their inability to hold such a meeting.
Left with no option, several fishermen associations have decided to call for a meeting soon to take a decision with regard to future course of actions.
The fishermen's representatives said they would take up the matter with the Supreme Court shortly, as for thousands of fishermen families in the coastal areas of South Gujarat the present crisis would be a question of survival.
Meanwhile, around 250 fishing boats, which sailed into sea a week ago, would be coming back to the new fishing jetty with their catch in a couple of days but the question remains whether they would face the wrath of the fishermen from Maharashtra.
News Source : Times News Network [ Lightning News ]
Bhuj telephone users' plight Friday, September 7, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Telephone users were informed by the telecommunication department that those who had lost their phones in the earthquqke should inform the department on phone no 50000 and give their numbers so that their phone could be considered as being in safe custody. Till subscribers demand their phone again, the telephone users would not be charged any rent for the period when the phone was not in operation.
However, now the department is demanding rent even for the period when the phones were not in operation.
The subscribers have decided to draw the attention of the Union communication minister and officials on the decision to charge rent for the period when the phones were not functional.
News Source : Times News Network [ Lightning News ]
U S aid for Kutch Friday, September 7, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
BHUJ: America has sanctioned relief of over $ 1.30 crore and would release further aid of $ 80 lakh for relief and restoration works in the earthquake-hit Kutch, said US ambassador Robert Blackwill while performing bhoomipujan at a housing complex at Paiya village of Bhuj taluka on Wednesday.
An amount of over $ 20,000 has been specially sanctioned for the restoration of Kutch Museum. He claimed that American President George Bush has taken personal interest in helping Kutch.
Blackwill inaugurated project for making cement block. Paiya village was badly damaged on R-day.
U S aid for Kutch Friday, September 7, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
BHUJ: America has sanctioned relief of over $ 1.30 crore and would release further aid of $ 80 lakh for relief and restoration works in the earthquake-hit Kutch, said US ambassador Robert Blackwill while performing bhoomipujan at a housing complex at Paiya village of Bhuj taluka on Wednesday.
An amount of over $ 20,000 has been specially sanctioned for the restoration of Kutch Museum. He claimed that American President George Bush has taken personal interest in helping Kutch.
Blackwill inaugurated project for making cement block. Paiya village was badly damaged on R-day.
