Despite strict warnings from the Chhattisgarh government, over 16,000 National Health Mission (NHM) employees have announced they will continue their indefinite strike, which began on August 18, significantly impacting healthcare services across the state.
On August 30, the state health department issued a directive enforcing a “no work, no pay” policy for striking NHM staff. All Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs) have been instructed to withhold the salaries of employees absent from duty this month, compile reports of their absence since August 18, and issue show-cause notices. The government has also warned that disciplinary measures, including possible termination, may follow if employees do not return to work, labelling the strike as “unjustified and against public interest.”
Kaushlesh Tiwari, General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh NHM Karmachari Sangh, claimed that essential services like child immunisation have been severely disrupted. He said the union had submitted 160 memorandums outlining their 10-point demands but received no satisfactory response. NHM workers held major demonstrations in Raipur and Bilaspur on Friday and extended their protest to district headquarters from 30th August.
With NHM staff absent, regular employees are shouldering the workload. A government hospital official said vaccination counters could not be increased due to staff shortages.
State NHM Karmachari Sangh President Dr. Amit Miri confirmed that their demands include job regularisation, fair grade pay, transparency in performance reviews, and better leave benefits for female employees.
However, Bilaspur CMHO Dr. Shubha Garewal insisted vaccination services were continuing smoothly, handled by regular staff. “We vaccinate on Tuesdays and Fridays. If there is a rush, families are asked to return the next day to avoid overcrowding,” she clarified.
Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal reiterated that contractual employees will not be paid for the strike period. He said that while certain demands like a 22% salary hike, a transfer policy, and 30 days of medical leave have been approved, regularisation of NHM staff requires approval from the central government.
NHM Workers’ Key Demands:
- Job security through NHM merger
- Creation of a Public Health Cadre
- Implementation of grade pay structure
- Reforms in performance evaluation
- Pending 27% salary increase
- Reservation in regular recruitment
- Compassionate appointment policy
- Medical and other leave benefits
- Formal transfer policy
- Minimum ₹10 lakh medical insurance coverage
