Community health officers (CHOs) in Punjab continued their strike for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, disrupting healthcare services in rural areas. The CHOs, led by union leaders Ajmer Singh, Davinder Kaur, Sukhpal Kaur, Manpreet Kaur and Ravinder Singh, suspended work and staged a protest outside the office of the Civil Surgeon in Tarn Taran.
Demands for Equal Pay and Regularisation
The protesting officers demanded the implementation of equal pay for equal work, claiming that CHOs in Punjab are paid Rs 5,000 less per month compared to their counterparts in other states. They also called for the withdrawal of the new performance incentive form and the regularisation of their services by sanctioning a separate cadre.
Speakers at the protest, including Harwant Kaur, Manjinder Kaur, Jeevanjot Singh, Prabhjit Kaur and Amarjit Kaur, addressed the crowd, highlighting the disparity in wages and the need for service regularisation.
Impact on Rural Health Services
The strike has severely affected health services in rural areas, as CHOs play a crucial role in delivering primary healthcare at the grassroots level. The union leaders warned that if their demands are not met, they will continue the protest and stage a dharna till July 1. From July 2, they plan to hold a dharna outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Sangrur.
