Raipur: The ongoing standoff between the Chhattisgarh government and National Health Mission (NHM) employees intensified after the termination of 25 staffers leading the protest. In response, 14,678 NHM officers and employees across the state have submitted their resignations, while continuing their indefinite strike that began on August 18.
Employees’ Demands and Strike
Nearly 16,000 contractual NHM employees, including doctors and health workers, have been demanding fulfilment of their 10-point charter, which includes:
- Regularisation of services
- Creation of a public health cadre
- Grade pay and compassionate appointments
- Better working conditions and pay scale
Employees allege that despite submitting memoranda over 160 times, their demands remain unaddressed.
Government’s Response
Instead of meeting the demands, the government issued dismissal orders to 25 employees, including Chhattisgarh Pradesh NHM Karamchari Sangh president Dr Amit Kumar Miri, general secretary Kaushlesh Tiwari, and senior leader Hemant Kumar Sinha. The orders cited “misconduct” under the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965 and violation of Human Resource Policy-2018.
Officials said the State Health Committee meeting on August 13 had accepted four demands, including:
- Transparency in confidential report (CR) evaluation
- 30 days of paid leave in emergencies
- 27% salary hike (under process)
- Minimum ₹10 lakh cashless health insurance (under process)
A committee has been set up to review demands related to grade pay, compassionate appointments, and transfer policy. However, demands for regularisation, creation of a public health cadre, and reservation in recruitment will be taken up only at the highest government level.
Employees Vow to Continue Agitation
Terming the dismissals as “repressive action,” Sangh leaders said the strike would continue until all demands are met. They alleged that the administration was avoiding dialogue and instead using threats of termination and pay cuts under the “no work, no pay” principle.
“The urgency shown in sending dismissal orders on WhatsApp should have been shown in addressing our demands,” Dr. Miri remarked.
