The contractual employees of National Health Mission (NHM) started their unique method of protest by working two hours more than their usual duty hours from Thursday. Under the banner of National health Mission Contractual Employees Association more than 14000 employees working in different hospitals and projects of state health services wore black arm bands in support of their five point agenda. The association taking inspiration from Japanese method of registering protest worked for two hours more on the day. The state President of the association, Sanjay Chauhan said that the state chief minister Harish Rawat while addressing the convention of NHM workers on September 19 had categorically assured that no worker would be removed but shortly after his declaration one of an employee Jaspal Rana was removed by the health department. Chauhan said that the association would continue its stir till Rana is reinstated. He said that the Rana was being awarded for excellent work for last four years consequently in Rashtriya Bal Swasthaya Karyakram of which he was a manager , thus his sudden removal makes no sense.
The state president of the association claimed that all the workers worked for two hours more on Thursday and would continue to do so till Saturday. “In the district hospitals, CHCs and PHCs the workers worked till 4 PM and in offices of CMOs and directorate the contractual NHM workers worked till 7 Pm. The members of the association also submitted memorandums to their respective CMOs in all parts of the state,” he said.
The association is also demanding that the health department should find ways to regularize their services on the pattern of some other states. The members also demand a proper insurance cover and implementation of Human Resource policy for them. The association also wants removal of pay disparity and timely increments. The members of the association have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from October 11.