Raipur: After a month-long protest, National Health Mission (NHM) contractual employees in Chhattisgarh called off their strike late Friday following discussions with Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal. The resolution comes after weeks of negotiations and growing public concern over the disruption of essential healthcare services.
Massive Participation in Strike
Over 16,000 NHM employees and officers had joined the strike, which began on August 18, demanding better pay, job regularisation, improved working conditions, and policy reforms. The prolonged absence of staff had severely affected healthcare delivery across the state, prompting the government to issue a strict ultimatum to return to work within 24 hours.
Government Accepts Key Demands
In a major development, the state government agreed to four critical demands of the employees: a 5% salary hike effective from July 2023, 30 days of paid annual leave, transparency in annual performance evaluations, and cashless medical insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh, according to IANS. These concessions address long-standing grievances of contractual staff who have been working with limited benefits.
Committee to Resolve Remaining Issues
To handle unresolved concerns, the government has formed a dedicated committee to examine matters such as grade pay determination, compassionate appointments, and transfer policies. The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations within three months. Health Minister Jaiswal praised employees for returning to duty and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving pending issues.
Relief for Healthcare Services
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed the end of the strike, stressing that NHM employees are part of the state’s extended family. He assured that legitimate demands will be addressed sensitively. With staff resuming work, health facilities across Chhattisgarh are expected to restore normal operations, reviving critical care and outreach programs for the state’s most vulnerable populations.
