Assam: NHM Contractual Employees Launch 3-Day Strike Over Demands in Dibrugarh

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DIBRUGARH: Contractual employees of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Dibrugarh went on a 3-day strike in response to a call from the All Assam Health and Technical Employees Welfare Association (AAHTEWA). The workers are protesting against the long-term deprivation of health employees appointed on a contractual basis in 2006.

The NHM workers demanded equal pay for equal work, following the Supreme Court’s ruling and are also seeking the regularization of their jobs, pay revision as per the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations and the extension of benefits like medical, house rent, gratuity, and pension enjoyed by state government employees.

“During Covid-19 when there was a nationwide lockdown, we risked our lives, attending to the patients and ensuring that vaccination drives were carried out effortlessly. However, we are neglected by the government,” a protesting nurse said. The contractual NHM workers, who are paid very low salaries, said that their contributions during the pandemic have not been recognized or rewarded adequately. They sought better treatment and benefits for the essential services they provide to the community.

GOLAGHAT: The NHM employees of the health department are taking a three-day strike from today, demanding regularization of jobs and solutions to various other issues.

In Golaghat, this strike programme was taken in front of Swahid Konwar Civil Hospital. The employees, under NHM posted at various health centres in Golaghat district, have been demanding the government to regularize their jobs as well as solve various other issues but employees have alleged that till date, the government has not paid any attention to this issue.

Meanwhile, due to this movement of health workers, health services in various health centers of Golaghat district have almost come to a standstill as a result of which patients are suffering during the strike time. On the other hand, taking part in the protest, NHM doctor Sulin Kurmi said, “For the last five years, we have been working just like government doctors. We have been employed as NHM doctors but are still deprived of the 7th pay salary and are engaged on contract basis.”

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