GULBARGA: The fate of over 500 second ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) across seven districts is hanging in balance as the health department has not yet renewed their contracts which ended on March 31. Official sources told Express on the condition of anonymity that District Health Officers of Bidar, Gulbarga [including Yadgir], Raichur, Koppal, Bellary, Chamraj Nagar and another district maintain the statuesque with regard to second ANMs.The sources added that second ANMs were appointed on contract for one year and their services were extended after breaking it for a day for the last four years. A circular issued in the last week of March to the DHOs stated that services of the second ANMs would not be continued after March 31 as the Government of India did not approve it.The circular directed the DHOs to make a list of people, who were trained in nursing and were eligible to become staff Nurse and to find out how many second ANMs completed the training. It was stated in the circular that qualified ANMs would be recruited either as staff nurses or for the first ANM position based on their eligibility.Another circular came on April 2 asking to maintain the statuesque. As the government had not given specific instructions, the second ANMs were asked not to attend to their duties after the expiry of the contract till fresh guidelines were issued, said the sources.According to sources, in Gulbarga district, the contract of 122 second ANMs have not been renewed till date. The sources said the government called for a meeting with senior officers from the health department on Saturday.
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