Dibrugarh: The All Assam Nurses' Association on Friday threatened to paralyse the health sector, alleging discrimination in the proposed salaries of general nursing midwifery (GNM) staff in the state in the pay revision report of the Seventh Pay Commission.

In a news conference held at Assam Medical College and Hospital, the association highlighted the present structure of the revision as published by the pay commission under which a salary of Rs 8,700 has been proposed only for BSc nursing degree holders.

There are 12,000 GNM nurses working in different health centres of Assam.

"We have been appointed and serving as staff nurses and so far we have been drawing salaries as staff nurses too. So, there cannot be any discrimination on the merit of degree when both BSc and GNM degree holders are serving as staff nurses," said Junu Chutia Dihingia, general secretary of the district unit of the All Assam Nurses' Association.

She demanded a withdrawal of the government decision.

"According to the pay commission report, those with BSc will get Rs 8,700 but we will receive Rs 6,800, which is much less," Dihingia said.

She said a three-member committee was formed, headed by P.K. Dutta, IAS (retd), but till date the committee has not submitted its report.