Doctors and healthcare workers across Haryana staged a hunger strike on Thursday protesting against the state government’s decision to implement a geofencing-based attendance management system.
The strike, organised by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) along with several healthcare associations, was held at the Civil Surgeon’s office on Mall Road. Employees under the banner of the Swasthya Vibhag Karamchari Talmel Committee began their dharna at 9 am, continuing until 5 pm. Representatives from multiple associations, including dental surgeons, nursing staff, pharmacists, OT technicians, radiographers, MPHW, GDA, NHM, contractual and HKRNL employees, participated in the protest.
The move follows the health department’s order mandating real-time location tracking of healthcare staff through a mobile app, which would automatically mark attendance when employees enter or leave designated boundaries. Salaries of all officers and employees are to be linked directly to this attendance data, as per a government communication dated May 30.
Doctors and employees, however, have strongly opposed the initiative, calling it a violation of privacy, workplace harassment, and a potential security risk. They handed over a memorandum to Civil Surgeon Dr. Poonam Chaudhary demanding immediate withdrawal of the order.
“This will not only violate the right of privacy guaranteed under the Constitution but also breach Supreme Court directions. Linking attendance to personal mobile phones increases risks of cybercrime and financial fraud, as SIM cards are connected to Aadhaar and bank accounts,” said Dr. Sanjay Verma.
Rajesh Singla from the Pharmacists Association argued that health staff were already marking attendance through a biometric system, making the new order unnecessary. Other doctors questioned why frontline workers who served tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic should now be subjected to such intrusive measures.
Protesting employees also alleged that officers had begun harassing health workers by withholding facilities, including maternity leave, to compel them to comply with the geofencing system.
Calling the move “illegal” and “impractical,” the associations have warned of further agitation if the government does not roll back the system.
