ESIC Nursing Officers Threaten Indefinite Strike From July 22

 Hyderabad: An indefinite strike threatened by ESIC nursing officers from July 22 over annual general transfer (AGT) 2026 orders has a Telangana link, with at least eight nursing officers from ESIC facilities in Sanathnagar figuring in the transfer list. The All India ESIC Nursing Officers’ Federation has announced black badge protests from July 16 to 18, demonstrations on July 20, mass casual leave on July 21 and an indefinite strike from July 22 if the transfer orders are not withdrawn.

Among the Sanathnagar personnel transferred are Shahnas N.V. and Muhammed Nadeer N. to Peenya in Karnataka; Radheshyam Garg to Bapunagar in Gujarat; and Jessy Thomas, Vijitha Vijayan, Jesmitha George and Ajith Kumar K.R. to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. Anzhad I. has been posted to ESIC Medical College, K.K. Nagar.

In its representation to the Union labour ministry, the federation alleged that transfers of assistant nursing superintendents, senior nursing officers and nursing officers were carried out without following objective criteria, tenure norms and provisions of the existing transfer policy. It also claimed that earlier assurances that transfers would be considered on request basis against vacancies had not been honoured.

The transfer dispute came days after the ESIC Nursing Officers’ Union, Telangana, issued a separate 14-day strike notice alleging administrative harassment, shortages of medical and surgical supplies, inadequate drinking water, poor sanitation facilities and unresolved staff grievances at ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Sanathnagar.

The federation said the transfer exercise had caused hardship to employees and their families, particularly women staff, by posting them to distant locations across the country. It has demanded immediate withdrawal of the transfer orders and consultation with employee representatives before any future transfer exercise.