Contract health workers, many serving 15–20 years, accuse AAP government of betraying regularisation promises
Patiala, 28 November 2025
Hundreds of National Health Mission (NHM) employees working on contract in Punjab’s Health Department have warned of launching a complete pen-down strike across the state from December 1, 2025, after not receiving salaries for nearly two months.
The employees, recruited through proper channels and serving the department for 15–20 years on meagre wages, are facing severe financial hardship. Despite repeated meetings with the Health Minister and senior officials, their grievances continue to be ignored, forcing the union to take the extreme step, said Amandeep Singh Dinesh Garg, senior leader of the NHM Employees Union Punjab.
Speaking to the media after submitting a memorandum to the Civil Surgeon, Patiala, the union leaders said the strike will continue indefinitely until:
- All pending salaries (almost two months) are immediately released
- A permanent mechanism is put in place to ensure salaries are credited by the 5th of every month
- Long-pending demands including equal pay for equal work, gratuity, and other benefits are implemented without further delay
Dr. Kulwinder Singh, Hem Lata, Tripta, and other leaders jointly stated: “We voted for change expecting the AAP government to regularise us and end exploitation. Instead, even basic salaries are being delayed for months. Families are struggling to pay school fees, EMIs, and daily expenses.”
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They warned that if the government fails to resolve these legitimate financial demands on priority, NHM employees will intensify the agitation and gherao (surround) the government at every level.
Present on the occasion were Sonika, Dr. Divjot Singh, Dr. Kulwinder Singh, Harish, Paramjit Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Sandeep Kaur, Manisha, Gurdev Singh, Lovepreet Singh, and other union leaders.
