NHM workers’ strike affects health services

Abohar, May 4

Contractual workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) today went on an indefinite strike to press for their demand of regularisation of jobs. The strike affected health services across the sub-division. They staged a dharna at the Sub-Divisional Civil Hospital and raised slogans against the state government and later submitted a memorandum to Senior Medical Officer Dr Gagandeep Singh.

NHM Workers’ Union block president Praveen Rani said NHM employees had been working on contracts for the past 12 years, but their service had not been regularised. Even during the Covid period, they had been working with sincerity by placing their life at stake.

She said by paying a salary of Rs 10,000 per month to the contractual workers, manifold work was being taken from them. Many of them working during the pandemic period even contracted the virus. “The government should support us instead of making rhetoric against us. We will have to intensify the stir if the government does not issue a notification on accepting our demands,” she added.

About 10,000 health staff under the NHM had been working on contract for the past 12 years. “The workers are also upset over the advertisements given by the state Health Department inviting applications for several posts, including staff nurses, instead of regularising our services,” said Rajinder Kaur, a leader. — OC