Protest Outside Civil Surgeon’s Office
National Health Mission (NHM) employees in Patiala staged a protest on Monday outside the Civil Surgeon’s Office at Mata Kaushalya Government Hospital, demanding permanent appointments in the Health Department and the implementation of the principle of equal pay for equal work.
Led by Dr Dinesh Kumar, the employees boycotted work and raised slogans against the Punjab Government. A delegation met Civil Surgeon Shelly Jaitley and submitted a memorandum listing their demands.
Contractual Employment and Job Security Concerns
The protesters highlighted that despite years of service, a large number of NHM employees continue to work on a contractual basis. This leaves them deprived of job security and the benefits available to regular employees, such as pensions, medical coverage, and other allowances.
Dr Dinesh Kumar stated, "We have been serving the health system for years, but we are still treated as temporary workers. The government must regularize our posts and ensure equal pay for equal work."
Civil Surgeon’s Assurance
Civil Surgeon Shelly Jaitley assured the delegation that their demands would be forwarded to the state government for consideration. However, the employees remain skeptical and have threatened to intensify their agitation if no action is taken within a stipulated time frame.
The protest comes amid ongoing discussions about the precarious working conditions of contractual employees in various government schemes across Punjab.
