NHM Punjab Employees’ One-Day Strike Disrupts Health Services Across State
Patiala, June 13,
A one-day strike by National Health Mission (NHM) Punjab employees severely disrupted health services across the state, as workers protested against the Punjab Government’s failure to fulfill promises. The NHM Employees Union Punjab announced a state-level protest rally in Ludhiana on June 15 to further press their demands.
State President Dr. Wahid stated that the strike was a last resort due to the government’s inaction. He highlighted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had promised to regularize all contractual NHM employees upon forming the government, but three years later, not a single employee has been regularized, nor have salaries been increased honorably. Despite meeting eligibility criteria and being recruited through proper procedures, NHM workers have faced economic and mental exploitation under the contractual system for 15 years. Dr. Wahid noted that despite 31 meetings with the government over the past three years, none of the union’s demands have been met, accusing the government of delaying tactics.
watch…..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bTesmfoaok
The strike saw enthusiastic participation across all districts of Punjab. During the upcoming Ludhiana rally, NHM employees plan to distribute around 10,000 pamphlets in the city’s streets to highlight the government’s stepmotherly attitude. General Secretaries Gulshan Sharma and Amarjeet Singh criticized AAP for backtracking on election promises, forcing nearly 10,000 NHM health workers to take to the streets. They held the state government responsible for public inconvenience caused by the strike, emphasizing that the action was a necessity to demand rightful entitlements.
Union leaders Sukhjeet Singh Ropar, Sandeep Kaur Barnala, and Dr. Shivraj pointed out that the Punjab Government has failed to seriously address contractual employees’ issues in recent assembly sessions. They accused the government of exploiting NHM workers in the critical health department while making tall claims about improving health facilities. State advisors Avtar Singh Mansa, Gurpreet Bhullar, and Dr. Sunil Targotra warned that NHM employees would intensify protests during the Ludhiana by-elections. Leaders Dr. Prabhjot Jabbal and Amandeep Singh added that if the government does not address their legitimate demands post-strike, the union will announce a sharper agitation soon.
watch……NHM Punjab Health Workers Stage Protest Against Mann Government’s Delays in Ludhiana West
Present at the event were Dinesh Garg, Amit Jain, Dr. Amandeep Kaur, Dr. Navneet Kaur, Dr. Lavneet Kaur, Dr. Nirmaljeet Kaur, Sarbjit Kaur, Unman, Kiranjeet Kaur, Rinku Rani, Manpreet Kaur, Tripta, Harish Kumar, Lovlinder Singh, Gurdev Singh, Manpreet Kaur, Vijender, and other employees.
