The three-day strike by National Health Mission (NHM) employees in Dibrugarh entered its second day on Tuesday, severely crippling district-level healthcare services. The protest, demanding job regularisation and pay parity, has seen hundreds of workers staging a sit-in outside the Joint Director of Health Services’ office since November 3.
Organised by the Dibrugarh District Health and Technical Welfare Association and the NHM Employees’ Association, the protesters have put forth a clear set of demands. These include the implementation of the Supreme Court-mandated ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’ policy, full benefits as per a 2021 government gazette notification, and absorption into permanent posts.
The employees have accused the state government of repeatedly ignoring their grievances, despite multiple assurances. They state that promises made by the Chief Minister during his first cabinet meeting remain unfulfilled, and their October 31 deadline for action passed without any government response.
“We are the backbone of the public health system, yet we work with minimal pay and zero job security. This government indifference has left us with no choice but to escalate our protest,” said Ushajit Phukan, Secretary of the NHM Employees’ Association, Dibrugarh.
In a significant escalation of their agitation, the employees have suspended all online and offline health reporting until November 12 and are boycotting the second phase of Mega Health Camps. As a symbolic gesture, workers are wearing black badges throughout the month of November.
The strike has brought routine healthcare operations to a standstill, severely affecting patient services and administrative functions across the district. With essential health programs disrupted and reporting systems suspended, the impasse threatens to create a broader crisis in public healthcare delivery.
Association representatives have vowed to continue their democratic movement until concrete action is taken, warning that health services will remain disrupted until the government initiates steps to meet their long-pending legitimate demands. The protesters are seeking immediate dialogue with government authorities and the swift implementation of their demands to restore normalcy.
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