Health Dept staff begin 3-day pen-down strike

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 22

The Punjab Health Department Subordinate Offices Clerical Association today went on a three-day pen-down strike. Clerical staff working at the civil surgeon office, civil hospital, community health centres, ESI wing and medical colleges held a strike. Work for making death and birth certificates, food and drug licence, medical and routine work at the offices remain suspended.

President of the association Sukhwinder Singh said meetings were held with the Health Minister in 2017 and 2018, and decisions taken during the meeting had not been implemented till date.

“Posts of 90 senior assistants, 11 superintendents’ grade-2, 10 superintendents and senior scale stenographers are lying vacant. These posts are not being filled by the government and there is great resentment among the clerical staff,” he said.

In addition to this, their salary grades also need to be updated and more posts should be created.

Association members had earlier met Brahm Mohindra, former health minister, and also Balbir Singh Sidhu, present Health Minister, but no concrete steps had been taken to accept their demands.