Strike demanding regularisation gathers pace, scores of health workers resign in Chhattisgarh

Sources in the health department said officials would soon meet the protest leaders for discussions. The sources said the strike has not severely impacted health services in the state, but acknowledged that the workload of regular health staff has increased.

A senior doctor from a government district hospital in Raipur said, “There are some NHM workers who are working. Not all are on strike. The work is not severely affected, but the workload has increased. Two people are doing the work of three people.”

The state’s NHM Mission Director, Dr Priyanka Shukla, told The Indian Express that an executive committee meeting on August 13 had already addressed many of the demands. “Two demands — transparency in confidential report (CR) evaluation and 30 days of paid leave in cases of exigency or serious health issues — have been fulfilled. Two more demands, a 27% salary hike and a minimum of Rs 10 lakh cashless health insurance, have also been accepted and are under process for implementation,” she said.

Shukla also said that a state-level committee, headed by the NHM joint director, has been formed to examine demands related to grade pay, compassionate appointments, and transfer policy. This committee will review HR policies applicable to contractual employees in other departments and present recommendations at the next executive committee meeting.

“The remaining three demands — regularisation, creation of a public health cadre, and reservation in recruitment to regular posts — can only be taken up at the highest level of government,” she said, adding that despite several demands being considered, the contract employees have continued their strike.