Three contractual nursing staff members, including a woman, climbed a nearly 90-foot-high water tank inside Jaipuria Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 7 August, demanding the immediate announcement of recruitment for 12,000 Nursing Officer posts and 7,000 Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) posts. The protesters — Vimal Sharma (32), Robin Sharma (28), and Sanjita Chaudhary (30) — ascended the structure in the early morning hours and refused to descend despite intermittent rainfall and repeated appeals from officials.

What the Protesters Are Demanding

The trio has insisted that recruitment be conducted on the basis of merit and bonus marks, arguing that a written examination alone would disregard years of service rendered by contractual healthcare workers. According to the protesters, they have submitted repeated memorandums to the Rajasthan state government and senior health officials over nearly two years without receiving any concrete response.

Contractual staff members Kiran Chaudhary and Komal alleged that General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) staff, pharmacists, and nursing personnel receive approximately ₹7,900 per month, while ANMs are paid around ₹6,300 per month — wages they described as unjustly low given their workload and experience.

Safety Measures and Crowd Response

Police and Civil Defence personnel were deployed at the site, and a safety net was installed beneath the water tank as a precaution. Authorities continued negotiations with the three protesters throughout the day. As news of the demonstration spread, a large number of contractual healthcare workers — including ANMs, GNMs, pharmacists, and nursing staff — gathered outside Jaipuria Hospital in solidarity. Police subsequently dispersed the crowd and restricted access to the immediate vicinity of the structure.

Years of Service, No Permanent Status

The protesters alleged that despite performing duties equivalent to those of regular government employees, contractual nursing staff continue to face low wages, job insecurity, and mental stress. Many, they said, have been working eight-to-nine-hour shifts for the past three to four years. Rakesh Saini from Dausa, who joined in support, noted that contractual nursing staff served on the frontlines during the Covid-19 pandemic and were repeatedly assured that their experience would be recognised through merit-and-bonus-marks-based recruitment.

Saini warned that if the state government fails to act, nearly 20,000 contractual nursing staff across Rajasthan could launch a statewide agitation.

Government Yet to Respond

Nadeem, a contractual employee associated with the 108 ambulance service, said workers had submitted more than 20 memorandums to Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar seeking merit-and-bonus-marks-based recruitment, but alleged that no clear assurance had been given despite several meetings. He also referenced the death of a contractual worker, describing it as a reflection of the frustration building among employees awaiting resolution.

The three protesters maintained they would not descend until the government provides a written assurance on their demands. Authorities were still engaged in talks as the situation continued to unfold.