NHM employees protest pay freeze

Employees of the National Health Mission (NHM) submitted a memorandum to the Mission Director through the Civil Surgeon, Sirsa, on Wednesday. The memorandum raised concerns about an "unlawful" letter issued by the Mission Director of Haryana, Panchkula, regarding the reduction of increased salaries for NHM employees.

According to the district press secretary of the union, Anil Malik, the Finance Department's "wrongful" advice had led to the Mission Director's decision to freeze the salaries of employees under the National Health Mission (NHM). Since January 1, 2018, the Haryana Government had implemented the "Service Bye-laws for NHM Contractual Employees Haryana-2018." These rules clearly stated that after five years of satisfactory service, employees would receive salaries as per the sixth pay commission, which includes basic pay, grade pay, dearness allowance and medical allowances. After 10 years of service, employees would receive additional benefits like house rent allowance.

Malik further said, from 2018 onwards, NHM employees had been receiving their salaries according to these rules. Their annual salary increments were granted every year on July 1 or January 1, depending on their date of joining. He said, however, on November 27, 2024, the Mission Director issued a letter, based on the advice of the Haryana's Finance Department, to freeze the employees' salaries, starting from June 27, 2024.

Malik said this action was against the service rules, which stated that salary changes should be in accordance with the date of service, and not be retroactive.

The memorandum called for the restoration of benefits to nearly 10,000 NHM employees, ensuring that their salary increments from June 2024 are provided according to the rules. The employees also warned that if the government's orders are not reversed, they would be forced to take legal action and launch a statewide protest.

Vishal Kumar, the state president of the union, addressed the workers, stating that the union had met the Chief Minister and the Health Minister multiple times, but their efforts had been "misled" by senior Finance Department officials. He also reminded that in November 2021, the Chief Minister had given theoretical approval for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for the NHM employees, but it was still pending. Instead, the employees were now facing a reduction in benefits they were promised, including the dearness allowance after five years of service.