NHM Employees of Thoubal District Staged Protest; Demand Regularisation of Contractual Staff

Thoubal,Sept.23: As a Part of the ongoing Protest demanding regularisation of the Contractual staffs of National Health Mission Manipur, the employees of National Health Mission (NHM), Thoubal carried out a sit-in-protest demanding the government to regularise their services.
The sit-in-protest began around 11 am today in front of CMO’s office at Thoubal Wangmataba. Banners and placards were used under All Manipur NHM employees Welfare Association (AMNEWA).
The participants also shouted slogans demanding regularising of their services. The sit-in-protest was also joined by state team of NRHM from Imphal.
Speaking to the media at the place of protest, Prabha Devi Member of AMNEWA said that employees working in other department have already been regularised but NRHM employees are left out.
She said that with the establishment in 2006, NRHM employees in the state, and moreover Manipur achieved lowest rate of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) for three consecutive times in the country. The hard work of the employees in health sector has not been considered seriously, he added.
She pointed out that contractual staff of NHM in other States have been regularised. He also reiterated that the association had submitted a memorandum to the concerned authority. The Government has not given any positive response till date prompting the association to stage the sit-in-protest, she said.
Prabha said that the sit-in protest is the first non-violence agitation. It will be followed by indefinite cease-work if the government fails to give positive response.
Prabha also appealed the state government to make policies to regularise the service NRHM employees at the earliest.
Placards reading “We are qualified enough to be regularised”, “Why other Departments but not NHM?”, “We deserve to be regularised”, “We demand a dedicated Mission Director from IAS cadre” “We have crossed upper age limit for Government jobs”, “Sustain NHM staff IMR, MMR”, “Why is Government neglecting NHM staff”  etc were displayed at the protest site.