NHM staff hit streets in Karnal

Karnal, July 7

Demanding regularisation of their services, employees of the National Health Mission (NHM) under the banner of the NHM Karamchari Sangh Haryana staged a dharna outside the Chief Minister Camp Office here on Sunday.

Major demands

• Demands of members of NHM Karamchari Sangh Haryana include financial security after retirement, amendments to the service rules, uniform and washing allowances to the employees who follow the dress code, hike in leave of employees, free medical facilities and restoration of the voluntary transfer policy.
• They were assured of a meeting with the Chief Minister and officials on July 10 in Chandigarh.

While marching towards the office, they were stopped at some distance by the police who put up barricades. But, the protestors managed to reach outside the office.

In the evening, the Chief Minister met the representatives of the protesters. Thereafter, they lifted their dharna around 7.30 pm. They were assured of a meeting with the Chief Minister and officials on July 10 in Chandigarh to discuss their issues. The employees said former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had promised to regularise their services with the implementation of the Seventh pay commission on November 2, 2021, but nothing happened in this regard.

Their demands include financial security after retirement, amendments to the service rules, uniform and washing allowances to the employees who follow the dress code, hike in leave of employees, free medical facilities and restoration of the voluntary transfer policy.

The protesters alleged that the government had failed to do anything about regularising their services despite their dedicated service. “We have been working with dedication for the past 25 years. We have been raising our issue on various platforms, but to no avail, forcing us to protest,” said a woman NHM employee.

Office-bearers of the NHM Karamchari Sangh Haryana, including state president Vikas Dhankar, state general secretary Hari Raj and member of the body from Karnal Suresh Narwal, said during the protest, they performed emergency services on Sunday.

“We did not stop the emergency services due to our protest. If our demands are not met, we will have no option but to stop these services in future,” they added.

Narwal said during the Covid-19 pandemic, NHM employees worked tirelessly. He said after getting assurance from the former Chief Minister, they have been waiting for the regularisation of their services.

Meanwhile, a heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order. Earlier, employees took out a protest march from Karna Park to the Chief Minister Camp Office and raised slogans against the government.