Hathras Contractual Health Workers Begin Sit-In, Demand Equal Pay And Job Security

Contractual health workers in Hathras began a sit-in protest at the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) office on Thursday, raising demands including equal pay for equal work, job security and regularisation of their services.

At around 11 am, a large number of contractual health workers reached the CMO’s office. They raised slogans and staged a demonstration over their demands. The employees said they wanted the government to address their concerns and provide them the benefits and security they have been seeking.

The main demands of the protesting workers include equal pay for equal work, regularisation and service security. They have also demanded a family floater cashless health insurance cover of 10 lakh rupees, EPF, HRA, dearness allowance and gratuity.

In addition, the workers have demanded compassionate appointment for a dependent if an employee dies while in service. These demands were raised along with the call to provide contractual health workers the same facilities and salary benefits as permanent employees.

Rishabh Gautam, district president of the Hathras Contractual Health Employees’ Union, said several employees had been working on contract in the Health Department for more than 18 years. Despite this, he said, they were not receiving facilities and salaries equal to those available to permanent employees.

Gautam demanded that contractual health workers be regularised in the Health Department. He also called for an immediate increase in their current salaries.

The movement has also been claimed to have affected health services across the district. The outpatient department (OPD) at the district hospital, maternal and child health services, vaccination work and the National Child Health Programme were reported to have been affected.

Various medical activities in rural areas were also said to have been impacted because of the protest by the contractual health workers.

The employees have warned that if a positive decision is not taken on their demands soon, they will reach Lucknow and stage a protest on 12 October. The protesting workers said their movement would continue until their demands are fulfilled.