Repeated monetary demands allegedly imposed by various organisations, including civil society bodies and armed groups, have placed an increasing financial burden on employees of the Health Department, with medical personnel in Imphal East district appealing for protection from coercion and intimidation.
Health personnel serving under the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Imphal East, said the demands have reportedly risen sharply since the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023. According to employees and a senior official associated with the CMO office, annual contributions and monetary demands, which previously stood at around Rs. 4–5 lakh, have increased to approximately Rs. 16–17 lakh.
The burden is reportedly felt at both district and peripheral levels, with demands allegedly directed at the CMO office as well as individual health centres. This means employees at peripheral facilities may be required to contribute towards district-level demands while facing separate financial demands at their respective workplaces.
Lower-paid employees, including Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), staff nurses, laboratory technicians and other health workers, are particularly affected, as their salaries leave little room for such additional expenses.
Medical personnel also face additional responsibilities beyond their regular duties. Khagembam Bikramjit Singh, Pharmacist (Allopathy) and Store-in-charge of the Non-Communicable Disease Cell, Imphal East, said medical teams are routinely deployed at sporting events, cultural programmes and melas at venues including Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Hapta Kangjeibung and City Convention Centre, without additional remuneration.
A senior CMO official acknowledged the growing financial pressure and said the employees had approached the office seeking permission to organise a protest. The proposal was recommended in view of the concerns raised by the staff. The official also expressed concern over the security of healthcare personnel, particularly women working at peripheral health facilities, who may face intimidation and disruption.
The employees’ concerns were brought into public focus through a sit-in protest at SAYC Ground, Porompat, Soibam Leikai, on Thursday where doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, ANMs and other health workers displayed placards appealing to organisations not to interfere with medical services or impose excessive monetary demands..