Dibrugarh, Nov 4: The three-day strike called by the National Health Mission (NHM) employees entered its second day on Tuesday, severely impacting healthcare services across Assam.
NHM employees continued their protest demanding the implementation of long-pending government promises.
The strike, jointly organised by the Dibrugarh District Health and Technical Welfare Association (NHM) and the National Health Mission Employees’ Association, has brought divisional health operations in the district to a near standstill.
The striking employees are pressing for five key demands, foremost among them being the implementation of a pay scale system ensuring “Equal Pay for Equal Work and Equal Rights,” in line with a 2013 Supreme Court verdict. They are also seeking full enforcement of the 2021 Assam Gazette Notification, which grants NHM employees gratuity, pension, death benefits, service book facilities, and other entitlements on par with regular state government staff.
Other major demands include direct appointments to vacant posts in the Health Department, family employment or full salary compensation in cases where employees die while in service, and the provision of Employees’ Provident Fund under the Social Security Act.
Association representatives pointed out that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had, during his first cabinet meeting, promised to regularise NHM employees’ jobs and provide Seventh Pay Commission salaries until regularisation. However, they alleged that neither assurance has been fulfilled.
“Not only has the regularisation of NHM employees’ jobs not been done, but no steps have been taken to provide salaries as per the Seventh Pay Commission. Even the Supreme Court’s verdict on ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’ remains unimplemented,” said an Association representative.
The protesters cited several states—including Delhi, Haryana, Odisha, Manipur, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra—that have either regularised NHM positions or extended salaries and benefits comparable to regular government employees.
“The fact that the Chief Minister has taken no steps so far has left employees deeply disappointed and disheartened,” they added.
The Dibrugarh strike follows a state-wide protest in Guwahati on October 29, during which employees had set an October 31 deadline for government action. With no response forthcoming, they have escalated their agitation.
All online and offline reporting has been suspended until November 12 as per the State Committee’s directive. Employees have also withdrawn from Phase II Referral Level Mega Health Camps, while all civil construction work has come to a halt. NHM staff will wear black badges from October 30 to November 30 and boycott all vertical programme activities.
“Despite the heavy workload and meagre salaries, the Chief Minister and the Health Minister have turned a deaf ear to our long-standing demands,” said another representative, vowing to continue their democratic protest until justice is served.
Also Read: Infrastructure upgrades behind power cuts: Meghalaya Power Minister
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
