‘No job security’: 500 Delhi health workers strike for 7th Pay Commission benefits

Their other demands include revision of salary ceilings to restore pending annual increments, job security for contractual employees, Delhi Government Employees Health Scheme (DGEHS) health cards, and retirement and death benefits for employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM).

In a letter dated June 24, addressed to the State Programme Officer, DSHM, the association announced that NHM employees would go on a one-day token strike on July 3 if their long-pending demands remained unresolved. It warned that if its demands continue to be ignored, it may intensify its agitation in the coming days.

‘Backbone of health system, but ignored’

Association members said NHM doctors and healthcare workers form the backbone of Delhi’s public healthcare system, providing services at mohalla clinics, dispensaries, polyclinics, school health programmes, immunisation drives and several other public health initiatives across the Capital.

Despite delivering frontline healthcare services for years, they alleged that thousands of contractual employees continue to work without job security or adequate service benefits.

In the June 24 letter, the association claimed a proposal to extend benefits of the 7th Pay Commission to DSHM employees has remained pending for years despite completing departmental processing. It claimed the file had been forwarded for Cabinet approval but has since remained stalled without any official explanation.

It also alleged that several employees have not received annual salary increments for the last three years because the maximum salary ceiling has not been revised in line with their years of service, resulting in significant financial losses.

Members of the association said this is not the first time NHM employees have resorted to a strike. Similar protests have been organised in the past, but employees resumed work considering the impact on patients and after receiving assurances from the authorities. They alleged that despite repeated representations, the issues have remained unresolved, forcing them to return to the streets.

There was no immediate response from the Delhi government or DSHM to the association’s claims.