Hundreds of National Health Mission (NHM) employees in Dibrugarh launched a three-day work abstention and sit-in strike on Monday in front of the Joint Director of Health Services office, demanding the implementation of long-pending promises made by the state government. The protest, organised jointly by the Dibrugarh District Health and Technical Welfare Association (NHM) and the National Health Mission Employees’ Association, has effectively brought divisional health work in the district to a standstill.
The striking employees are demanding five key reforms, chief amongst them being the implementation of a pay scale system ensuring ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work and Equal Rights’ in accordance with a 2013 Supreme Court verdict. The protesters are also seeking full implementation of the 2021 Assam Gazette Notification that would provide NHM employees with gratuity, pension, death benefits, service book facilities, and other benefits at par with regular state government employees.
Additional demands include direct appointments to vacant posts in the Health Department, family employment or full salary compensation in case of an employee’s death whilst in service, and the provision of Employees’ Provident Fund under the Social Security Act.
The Association highlighted that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had promised in his first cabinet meeting after forming the government to regularise NHM employees’ jobs and provide salaries according to the Seventh Pay Commission until regularisation. However, representatives claim neither promise has been fulfilled.
“Not only was the regularisation of National Health Mission employees’ jobs not done, but no steps were taken even regarding giving salaries as per the Seventh Pay Commission. Even the Supreme Court’s verdict for providing ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’ has not been implemented to date,” Krishna Gohain, a representative of the Association stated.
The protesters pointed to several states—including Delhi, Haryana, Odisha, Manipur, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra—that have either regularised NHM employees’ positions or are providing salaries and benefits at par with regular government employees.
“The fact that the current Chief Minister has taken no steps has left the employees more disappointed and pained,” the representatives said, expressing their frustration at the government’s inaction.
The Dibrugarh strike follows a centralised protest in Guwahati on October 29, where employees from across the state set a deadline of October 31 for the government to address their demands. With the government remaining unresponsive, NHM employees in Dibrugarh have escalated their protest, holding placards and strongly condemning what they describe as continuous injustice.
As per the State Committee’s decision, all online and offline reporting has been suspended until November 12. Employees have also refused to participate in the Phase II Referral level of Mega Health Camps already conducted, and all civil construction work has been halted. To demonstrate their ongoing protest, NHM employees have decided to wear black badges continuously from October 30 to November 30 and will not participate in any Vertical programme activities.
“Despite the excessive workload and receiving minimal salaries, the Chief Minister and the Health Minister have turned a deaf ear to the long-standing demands of the National Health Mission employees,” the Association representatives stated, adding that they are prepared to continue their democratic struggle until their rightful dues are secured.
The strike has effectively disrupted health services in the district, with employees united in their resolve to secure fair compensation and job security after years of what they describe as broken promises and government indifference.
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