The contract employees of the Health Department remained off work on Friday and staged dharna in the city in support of their demands of regularisation and hike in the pay.
During the strike, a dharna was staged under the banner of Madhya Ppradesh Contract Health Employees’ Association, employees from all around the State participated and they protested at Neelam Park.
According to State President of Madhya Pradesh contract employee confederation Ramesh Rathore, this protest is for demanding their regularisation and a rise in salary for these employees. Since, the contractual employees are not getting regular yearly hike in their pay, they are facing problems.
Rathore said, “As per National Health Mission there is a provision for increase in pay by 10 per cent per year. But this process has not take place for past three years. MP Government is not following this guide line properly.”
While talking to the Pioneer, Rathore said that the State government caters only the needs of the one who already has and not the one who actually needs. He stated that if the demands are not met, then the association will move into indefinite strike. The decision to move into strike will be take in February.
As per the Employee Association, for past 10 years there are more than 35,000 employees working in Health Department and involved in different projects, but their welfare is not being taken care of.
During the strike emergency services were in place. As Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams were involved in the strike, the health inspection of school children could not be conducted. Vaccination of children also came to a standstill due to the strike. Similarly, payments could not be made to the beneficiaries of the Janani Suraksha scheme. Office works came to a full stop.
As Deendayal Pharmacist was on strike the distribution of medicine was also affected.