Staff Warn of Intensified Agitation if Salaries Are Not Released
PHAGWARA: Health services across Punjab were thrown into disarray on Monday as employees of the National Health Mission (NHM) Punjab began a statewide strike over the non-release of their pending salaries. The protest gained momentum in Kapurthala, where NHM workers gathered outside the Civil Surgeon’s Office and raised slogans demanding immediate action from the government. According to Ram Singh, General Secretary of the NHM Employees Union Punjab, staff members have not received their salaries for the past two months, a delay that has caused widespread financial strain and growing anger among employees across the state. He said that despite repeated reminders, the authorities have failed to respond, leaving workers with no option but to launch a full-scale protest.
With the strike entering its first day, health services were severely affected throughout Punjab. Daily OPD operations, online and offline departmental reporting and several other routine medical functions were completely halted as NHM employees suspended all official duties. Union leaders said the government’s indifferent attitude has pushed workers into both financial hardship and mental stress, and they warned that the responsibility for the breakdown of health services rests squarely with the authorities, not the employees forced to protest.
As the agitation intensifies, the union has announced a series of statewide actions over the next few days. On December 2, NHM staff will stage sit-in protests outside their respective offices. On December 3, employees will submit memorandums to Deputy Commissioners and local MLAs. The protest will escalate further on December 4, when NHM workers from across Punjab will march to Chandigarh to gherao the office of the Mission Director. Ram Singh said that the struggle will continue until salaries are released and the government addresses the long-standing concerns of the workforce.
Several senior employees, including Dr. Navpreet Kaur, Pankaj Walia, Jyoti Anand, Priyanka and Kamaljeet Singh, were present during the Kapurthala demonstration, standing in solidarity with the protesting staff as the state’s health system faced mounting disruption due to the ongoing strike.