Guwahati: National Health Mission (NHM) workers across Assam have launched a three-day “work boycott and sit-in strike” starting November 3, demanding equal pay, permanent employment, and social security benefits. The strike has seen widespread participation from NHM employees in various districts, including Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar, who are voicing strong resentment over the government’s repeated failure to fulfill earlier promises.
In Bongaigaon district, hundreds of NHM workers staged a protest in front of the Joint Director of Health Services office, alleging that the assurances made by the former Health Minister, now the Chief Minister, have turned out to be hollow. The protesters warned that if the government continues to ignore their issues, the agitation will be carried out in a sustained and statewide manner.
The NHM employees are staging the protest to press for five major demands, including the introduction of a proper pay scale for all categories of NHM employees, equal pay for equal work, and equal rights for all staff under the mission. They are also seeking gratuity, pension, and death-related benefits for NHM employees on par with regular state government employees, along with immediate appointment to vacant posts in the health department.
The protesting employees have warned that if their demands are not met at the earliest, they will intensify their agitation into a stronger democratic movement across the state. The association has also urged the government to bring all NHM employees under the Social Security Act and ensure coverage through EPF or CPF. With over 20,000 NHM employees participating in the strike, healthcare services across the state are likely to be severely impacted.
