Thousands of dedicated healthcare workers under the National Health Mission in Assam brought their long-standing grievances to the streets, staging a massive protest that highlighted the stark disparities in the state's healthcare system.
The Heart of the Protest
Contractual employees, including the crucial Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), rallied under the banner of the Joint Action Committee of National Health Mission Employees. Their primary demand centers on a fundamental principle: equal pay for equal work. These workers perform identical duties to their permanently employed counterparts but receive significantly lower compensation and benefits.
Years of Service Without Security
Many of these healthcare professionals have served the state's rural and urban populations for over a decade, yet they continue to work on temporary contracts without job security. The protestors emphasized that despite their essential role in delivering healthcare services across Assam, they face constant uncertainty about their employment status.
Key Demands Presented
- Immediate regularization of all NHM contractual staff
- Salary parity with permanent health department employees
- Implementation of the 'Equal Pay for Equal Work' principle
- Job security and proper benefits for long-serving staff
- Recognition of their contributions to Assam's healthcare system
A Statewide Movement
The protest represents a growing movement among healthcare workers who feel their years of service and dedication have gone unrecognized. As one protestor noted, "We serve the same patients, perform the same duties, yet we are treated as second-class employees."
The demonstration has drawn attention to the critical issue of contract labor in India's healthcare sector, particularly in states like Assam where NHM workers form the backbone of rural health services.
