Ludhiana, June 9,
Frustrated by the Mann government’s delays and unfulfilled promises, nearly 9,200 medical, paramedical, and clerical health workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) Punjab, who have been working on meager wages for the past 18 years under a contract system, have launched a protest march toward Ludhiana West.
On June 15, they will hold a public awareness campaign in Ludhiana’s markets to expose the AAP government’s failure to honor its commitments. Thousands of pamphlets will be distributed at public places to highlight the government’s unkept promises.
For the past two-and-a-half to three years, the NHM Employees Union Punjab’s state committee has held meetings with the Punjab government, but these have proven to be mere verbal assurances without action. State leaders expressed resentment, stating that despite nearly three years passing, the government has failed to address any legitimate demands of NHM employees, leading to widespread discontent. Following an online meeting on June 5, all employees unanimously decided to oppose the Punjab government during the Ludhiana West assembly by-election on June 15. They will conduct a protest rally, distribute 10,000 pamphlets in Ludhiana West’s neighborhoods and markets, and expose the government’s falsehoods.
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This information was shared by NHM Employees Union Punjab State President Dr. Wahid Malerkotla and State General Secretary Gulshan Sharma Faridkot. Senior leaders including State Secretary Gulshan Sharma Faridkot, Kiranjeet Kaur Mohali, Sandeep Kaur Barnala, and Amarjeet Singh Fatehgarh Sahib noted that neighboring Haryana has been providing NHM employees with regular pay scales, pay commissions, DA, and medical reimbursement benefits under service by-laws since 2017. The union’s key demands include regularization, increasing current wages in line with Haryana’s by-laws, loyalty bonuses, earned leave under leave policy, gratuity, and more.
State leaders such as Ranjit Kaur Bathinda, Dinesh Garg Patiala, Jasbir Singh Tarn Taran, Deepika Sharma Pathankot, Dr. Prabhjot Kapurthal, Amandeep Singh Nabha, Anita Hoshiarpur, and Dr. Sumit Kapahi Jalandhar urged the government to promptly fulfill these legitimate demands and restore the workers’ dignity. They expressed anger, accusing the Bhagwant Mann government of evading solutions, further fueling employee frustration. Other attendees included Dr. Raj Nawanshahr, Jashan Fatehgarh Sahib, Harjinder Singh Sangrur, Dr. Kulwinder Singh, Dr. Jatinder Singh, Dr. Shivraj, and district leaders.
