The strike of National Health Mission (NHM) employees going on for the past one month in Chhattisgarh has now ended. Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal informed in a press conference on Friday that the government has accepted 4 of the employees’ 10-point demands. At the same time, a committee has been formed on 3 demands and high-level discussions are ongoing on the remaining 3 demands. After this, he also gave a final warning to the striking employees. He said that if all employees do not return to work by this evening, the government will start a new recruitment process. Preparations are being made to issue an advertisement for this within 2 to 3 days. His ultimatum worked, and soon after the news came that the strike had ended.
25 Dismissed Employees’ Case to Be Considered Only After Return to Duty
In Chhattisgarh, Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal also made it clear that the case of 25 dismissed employees will be considered only when the rest of the employees also return to their duty. Action will also not be taken further against those employees who had received notices, provided they immediately return to work. In fact, due to the strike, the state’s health services had been completely affected. Especially in rural areas, patients had to face severe difficulties. The minister said that playing with the lives of the public cannot be tolerated at any cost.
Government’s Ultimatum to Start New Recruitment Process
Chhattisgarh Government’s Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal also gave a final warning to the striking employees. He said that if all employees do not return to work by this evening, the government will start a new recruitment process. Preparations are being made to issue an advertisement for this within 2 to 3 days. The minister also clarified that the case of 25 dismissed employees will be considered only when the rest of the employees also return to their duty. Action will also not be taken further against those employees who had received notices, provided they immediately return to work.
Patients Forced to Wait for Hours Due to Strike’s Impact
The strike continuing for a month badly affected health services. In district hospitals and health centers, patients had to wait for hours for treatment. Alternative arrangements were made at many places, but due to insufficient staff, health services went off track.
Employees’ Demands: Regularization, Pay Hike and Service Security
NHM employees in Chhattisgarh had been agitating for a long time over demands such as regularization, salary increase, service security, and hike in allowances. The government has agreed to four of these demands. A committee has been formed for three demands and the remaining three demands have been sent to a higher level.
