Health workers strike for 2 hours over 4 months' salary delay

Health workers linked to the National Health Mission (NHM) went on a two-hour strike on Wednesday because their salaries have not been paid for four months. Workers across the district stopped work from 10 am to 12 pm. This strike affected services at the District Civil Hospital Sirsa, Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHC), and Primary Health Centers (PHC). Patients and their attendants faced problems due to disrupted health services.

Doctors, staff and other workers connected to the NHM will continue this strike every day from 10 am to 12 pm until August 14. This kind of strike is called a ‘pen-down strike.’ Around 700 NHM employees work in the district, including nurses, pharmacists, and ANMs, at various hospitals and health centres.

Due to the strike, many services like OPD registration, tests, medicine distribution, and vaccinations were stopped. The health workers gathered at the Civil Hospital to protest.

Vinod Jangra, district minister of the Health Workers Union, Haryana, said the workers had not received their salaries for four months. Because of this, they are struggling to manage their household expenses. They demanded that their unpaid salaries be paid immediately and sought future payments on time.

On August 8, a letter was sent to the Chief Minister through the Civil Surgeon, explaining that many workers had not been able to pay their children's school fees on time. Due to delayed salaries, some were fined for late payments and bank loans were not paid on time, making them defaulters. They are also face difficulties buying daily food and medicines. Despite all these problems, the health workers have continued doing their duties.