Chhattisgarh’s National Health Mission (NHM) faced an unprecedented upheaval on Friday as over 14,000 contractual employees tendered their resignations following the government’s dismissal of 25 staffers leading an ongoing agitation. The move has intensified a strike that has gripped health services across the state for nearly three weeks.
The NHM staff, who have been protesting since August 18, demanded regularisation of services, improved working conditions, and other benefits. “This repressive action (termination order) by the administration is completely unfair and a hindrance to dialogue. Angered by this move, 14,678 officers and employees of NHM across the state have so far submitted their resignations,” said Pranntiya Sanrakshak Hemant Kumar Sinha, a union representative.
Among those dismissed are Chhattisgarh Pradesh NHM Karamchari Sangh president Dr Amit Kumar Miri, general secretary Kaushlesh Tiwari, and Sinha himself. Dr Miri noted that the NHM employees “have been agitating within the ambit of constitutional rights since August 18 over their 10-point demands, which also include the creation of a public health cadre, grade pay, and compassionate appointments.”
The strike is expected to continue, with around 16,000 contractual NHM employees participating, and more likely to submit resignations, Sinha added.
According to government officials, the NHM executive committee had already addressed several demands during a meeting on August 13. “Two demands transparency in confidential report (CR) evaluation and 30 days of paid leave in cases of exigency or health issues, have been fulfilled. Two more demands, a 27 per cent salary hike and a minimum of Rs 10 lakh cashless health insurance, have also been accepted and are under process for implementation,” said Dr Priyanka Shukla, Managing Director of the State NHM.
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Shukla added that a state-level committee, headed by the NHM joint director, is reviewing demands regarding grade pay, compassionate appointments, and transfer policy, with recommendations to be presented at the next executive committee meeting. The remaining three demands, regularisation, creation of a public health cadre, and reservation in recruitment to regular posts, “will be taken up at the highest level of government,” she said.
The government had terminated 25 protesting staffers on September 3, citing violations of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965, and the Human Resource Policy-2018. The termination order stated, “You were given an opportunity to report under natural justice, which was not followed. Hence, your contractual appointment stands terminated with immediate effect.”
Dr Miri accused the administration of delaying dialogue, stating, “The agitation has become a compulsion after submitting memoranda 160 times without receiving any response from the administration. During the protest, warning letters and dismissal orders are being sent on WhatsApp at great speed. If the same urgency had been shown in resolving our demands, this situation would not have arisen.”
The mass resignations mark a major crisis for Chhattisgarh’s health services, which rely heavily on contractual NHM employees to provide medical care across the state.
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