Mumbai News: Community Health Volunteers Boycott Election Duty Over Employment Dispute

Mumbai: Around 3,000 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) have refused appointments as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for election duty, citing multiple objections. They argued that while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) does not recognise them as employees, it is still deputing them for election work.

The CHVs claim that election duties are meant only for central, state, or local body employees.

Advocate Prakash Devdas, President of the Mahapalika Arogya Seva Karmachari Sanghatana (MASKS), said the BMC has itself denied that CHVs are its employees and has even challenged a Bombay High Court ruling recognising their status, asserting there is no employer–employee relationship.

“The Election Commission guidelines mandate that BLOs should be government or local body employees. However, most CHVs are political party workers, and many are over 60 years old,” said Advocate Devdas. At a recent meeting, CHVs resolved that they would accept BLO duties only if they are formally recognised as BMC employees. Otherwise, the union plans to file a writ petition in the Bombay High Court.

According to MASKS, BMC officials are allegedly forcing health workers to accept appointment letters for election duty. “On one hand, the municipal corporation says CHVs are not its employees, but on the other, it warns that action will be taken if they refuse to perform election duty,” Devdas said.

In addition to this, many of the health volunteers stated that this might affect health services especially among underprivileged as CHVs work as a bridge between health services and the marginalised community.

MASKS has written to the BMC administration demanding the immediate withdrawal of CHVs’ names from the list sent to the State Election Authorities.

Meanwhile, political parties are gearing up for the upcoming BMC elections, with discussions centring on holding them in October or November 2025. The ward delimitation process has begun, and the final boundaries for the 227 wards are expected to be notified by 4 September 2025, following the release of a draft and a round of public feedback.