Health staff threaten to intensify protest

Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 1

Office-bearers and activists of various outfits of Health Department employees have threatened to intensify their stir in case their long-pending demands are not accepted and implemented without further delay.

Responding to a call given by the joint action committee of outfits of the Health Department employees, the activists shunned work today and started a chain hunger strike with the office-bearer of the Punjab State Pharmacy Officers’ Union leading the protest today.

Office-bearers and members of the Government Paramedical Health Employees Union, Punjab State Pharmacy Officers Union, PGMC Association, Medical Lab Technicians Union, Multipurpose Health Workers Union (male and female) Punjab and National Health Mission Union held protest rallies at their respective healthcare centres on the first day of the year.

Speakers alleged that it was unfortunate that the state government, led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, instead of recognising the stupendous role played by various categories of health personnel during the pandemic, had tried to rub salt into their wounds by withdrawing 40 allowances being paid for the past 25 years.

“Though we were expecting special facilities and perks in the long-awaited Sixth Pay Commission, everyone was shocked to observe that the state government has tried to disgrace our profession by adopting such a step which, in some cases, might cause reduction in their net income,” said Karamjit Singh.