Health workers stir enters Day 6

The agitation by the Unemployed Multipurpose Health Workers (MPHW) Union intensified on Monday as lone member on water tank outside the residence of Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Wednesday, refused to climb down, while demanding age relaxation in the recruitment for 270 medical educator posts.

The talk of the union delegation with Dr Balbir Singh remained inconclusive. The protesters — Makkhan Singh Cheema and Heera Lal from Amritsar — ascended the tank early on Wednesday, escalating tensions as the union continued its demonstration for the second consecutive day.

The health of Heera Lal, who had climbed the water tank along with Makkhan Singh Cheema on Wednesday, deteriorated on Sunday and he was rushed to a hospital where his condition was stated to be stable.

The union today burnt the initiation letter of talk with the health minister. Union president Sukhwinder Singh Dhilwan claimed that the health minister had assured that circular regarding the age relaxation would be issued before the written exam scheduled for November 30. Protesters accused the state government of going back on its commitment, recalling that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had publicly assured unemployed youth and also during Rakhar Punnia at Baba Bakala that those who had crossed the upper age limit while waiting for recruitment would be given relaxation.

They alleged that the government had failed to accommodate youth who became overage during previous regimes and also overlooked applicants, who crossed the age limit, during the four-year AAP government’s rule in the state.

According to the union, of the 2,200 eligible candidates, nearly 1,850 were overage, leaving only around 350 aspirants within the permissible limits.