The Punjab AIDS Control Programme Employees Association has threatened to stage a protest with black flags during the scheduled visit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to Sunam on July 31. The employees are demanding the implementation of a promised 20 percent salary hike and regularisation of their jobs.
Protest Over Unfulfilled Promises
Association state president Jasmail Singh Deol said the salary hike had been assured by the government ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections. Despite repeated assurances and several rounds of discussions with senior health officials, the hike has not been implemented. Employees have been serving on the frontlines of public health, providing critical HIV and AIDS-related services in government hospitals, including testing, counselling, treatment support, drug distribution, and blood bank assistance.
Postponed Protest and Upcoming Meeting
The association had earlier planned a protest outside the residence of Health Minister Balbir Singh in Patiala on July 19. However, the protest was postponed after the local administration assured them of a panel meeting with the minister and senior department officials on July 27. The outcome of that meeting will determine the association's next course of action.
Deol warned that if the government fails to find a concrete and meaningful solution, the agitation will be intensified. The association has announced the July 31 protest against Kejriwal, Mann, and the Health Minister during their visit to inaugurate a new blood bank in Sunam.
Long-Standing Grievances
The employees allege that their genuine concerns have been consistently overlooked despite serving the public tirelessly. The association has been demanding job regularisation for years, with only temporary contracts offered. The 20 percent salary hike was a pre-election promise that remains unfulfilled, leading to growing frustration among the staff.
Employees under the Punjab AIDS Control Programme work in over 100 government health facilities across the state. They play a vital role in the management and prevention of HIV/AIDS, including counselling, treatment adherence monitoring, and distribution of antiretroviral drugs.
