Health workers to hold state-level protest outside CM’s residence in Kurukshetra on March 23

National Health Mission (NHM) employees under the banner of Swasthya Karamchari Sangh, affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, held a state-level meeting at Brahmin Dharamshala in the city on Sunday. They announced to hold a state-level protest on March 23 outside the CM’s residence in Kurukshetra. Prior to this, the NHM employees will submit memorandums to the Deputy Commissioners at district headquarters on March 18 to press their demands.

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The employees demanded the release of pending dearness allowance for January and July 2024, as per the NHM Service Rules 2018 under the Sixth Pay Commission, along with the benefits of the Seventh Pay Commission, which were approved in principle by former CM Manohar Lal Khattar on November 2, 2021.

They also demanded that the strike/agitation periods from 2017 to 2024 should be considered as duty periods, and salaries should be released accordingly.

State President Vipin Sharma said that on March 23, thousands of NHM employees will gather at the CM’s residence in Kurukshetra to stage a protest and present their demands to the government.

Jagat Bisla, state general secretary, said that on August 15, 2024, the CM had announced an Act for contractual employees in the state, which had ensured job security for all such employees. This Act had given NHM employees hope for a secure future, but it is yet to be fulfilled.

Suresh Narwal, Karnal Sangh press secretary, said that on June 26, 2024, the Finance Department issued orders to the Mission Director to freeze NHM employees’ service rules, withdrawing the service benefits granted by the BJP in 2018. As a result, NHM employees have been feeling insecure about their future.

For the first time in history, the same government that had granted NHM employees service benefits is now attempting to withdraw them, causing widespread anger among employees, he said.

The employees’ leaders said that NHM employees have always been dedicated to serving the public, even during pandemics like Covid and disease outbreaks. Despite their commitment, the government has been undermining their rights.

In July-August 2024, NHM employees staged a 22-day strike at the district level to demand their rights, but the government only offered empty assurances. Frustrated with unfulfilled promises, NHM employees are now compelled to take stronger action. During the meeting, representatives from almost all districts pledged to participate actively in the protest on March 23, they added.