A City's Health Hangs in the Balance: Ludhiana's NHM Workers Strike Over Unpaid Salaries and Unmet Promises

A critical healthcare crisis is unfolding in Ludhiana, as hundreds of dedicated contractual staff under the National Health Mission (NHM) have launched an indefinite strike, bringing essential health services to a grinding halt. The backbone of public health, these frontline workers are protesting the glaring neglect of their demands, primarily the non-payment of their salaries for August and September, pushing them to a point of desperation.

The strike, which commenced with full force, has seen NHM employees from various departments converge, leaving critical services in limbo.

From vital vaccination drives that protect children against preventable diseases to routine Out-Patient Department (OPD) services, crucial laboratory tests, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programs, and essential tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment – all are severely impacted. This abrupt disruption threatens to unravel the progress made in public health initiatives across the district, directly affecting thousands of citizens who rely on these government-provided services.

The plight of these workers is heartbreaking.

Many have dedicated years of their lives to serving the community, often in challenging conditions, only to face financial insecurity. Spokespersons from the Punjab State Health Employees Welfare Association articulated the profound distress among their members. They highlighted how the delay in salary payments has led to immense financial hardship, making it difficult for employees to manage their household expenses, pay school fees, or even put food on the table.

The emotional toll of working without compensation, despite their unwavering commitment to public welfare, is palpable.

Beyond the immediate crisis of unpaid wages, the NHM staff's demands are long-standing and resonate with a broader struggle for dignity and fair treatment. Their key grievances include the urgent regularisation of their services, an issue that has plagued contractual employees for years, leaving them in a state of perpetual uncertainty.

They also demand a just increment in their salaries, which have often remained stagnant despite rising living costs, and the implementation of 'equal pay for equal work' – a principle that ensures parity with their permanent counterparts who perform identical duties.

The district and state health authorities have yet to provide a satisfactory resolution, fueling the employees' resolve to continue their strike until their demands are met.

The Association has firmly stated that the protest will persist indefinitely, intensifying daily, until their voices are heard and concrete action is taken. The onus is now squarely on the government to address this critical situation, not only to alleviate the suffering of its dedicated health workforce but also to restore the vital health services that the people of Ludhiana so desperately need.