7k NHM workers start stir over demands; health services likely to be hit

DEHRADUN: As many as 7,000 frontline workers of the health department in Uttarakhand are up in arms once again, against the system for allegedly failing to fulfill their demands.

These demands include, regularisation in the department, dues of the pandemic to be paid, social and job security, cadre formation, their inclusion in public health cadre and public healthcare management cadre, an HR policy, no recruitment through outsource agencies, among various other demands. They are concerned that NHM programmes would be closed by 2026 and thus their future would hang in balance.

Since Tuesday, they have been working, but with black ribbons tied around their arms. They also plan to boycott work on Friday, followed by a 'gherao' of director general of health's office on Monday. Their absence from health facilities is likely to hit the smooth functioning of work as 80% of health department's works are handled by NHM workers, they claim.

The national vice-president of NHM Contractual Employees' Union, Sunil Bhandari told TOI, "We were being told that by 2026, NHM projects would be closed. In that case, we have served the health department for 18 years, and states like Rajasthan, Himachal, Odisha and Manipur have started regularising NHM contractual workers. However, Uttarakhand is telling us that the paucity of funds in NHM is hampering the process, while the Union health ministry is saying that NHM's mandate is only to provide funds and job regularisation and security is the state's mandate." The health authorities maintained they are looking into their concerns and addressing them.


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