Hyderabad: Former minister T. Harish Rao demanded NHM staff regularisation and job security for employees of the National Health Mission (NHM), AYUSH and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. He made the demand while expressing solidarity with NHM employees staging an indefinite strike outside the Siddipet Collectorate. Rao accused the Congress government of failing to honour its employment promises despite nearly three years in power.
Rao recalled that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had promised to regularise employees within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea if the Congress came to power. He questioned whether the Chief Minister had forgotten that assurance. He also asked whether Revanth Reddy remembered his promise to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan employees when he drank tea.
The former minister raised concerns over delayed salaries. He said NHM employees had not received their wages even by the 15th of the month. By contrast, he recalled that the previous BRS government paid NHM staff on the first day of every month.
Rao also praised NHM employees for serving people in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they risked their lives to provide healthcare. He argued that the government should recognise their service by resolving their long-pending demands.
NHM staff regularisation and equal pay among key demands
Rao demanded regularisation for NHM, AYUSH and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan employees. In addition, he called for equal pay for equal work and job security. He said the government should provide provident fund (GPF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and health insurance according to employees’ eligibility.
He also urged the government to ensure monthly salary payments on the first day. Meanwhile, he demanded the immediate release of pending wages and arrears. Rao said the government must take a clear decision on regularising employees working under NHM, AYUSH, the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
Rao assured the striking employees that the BRS would extend full support in the coming days to help secure their demands. He also expressed solidarity with sanitation workers who were on strike seeking a resolution to their problems. The NHM employees continued their indefinite protest outside the Siddipet Collectorate.