Pune: Over 2,200 NHM Contractual Staff Threaten April 15 Strike Amid Salary Dispute

The National Health Mission (NHM) contractual nurses and doctors will hold a one-day strike on April 15 at the Pune Zilla Parishad office over the non-payment of salaries for two months.

Harshal Ranavre, president of the NHM Contractual Officers and Staff Association, Pune district, speaking to The Free Press Journal, said, "We have written a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad to clear our salaries, which have been due for two months now. We will wear black ribbons from April 9 to April 14 and hold a strike on April 15 if the pending salaries are not cleared by April 14."

Over 2,200 staff in the district have been affected by the non-payment of salaries. The contractual staff includes specialised doctors, doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmaceutical officers, and community medical officers. They work at the district hospital, rural hospital, sub-district hospital, and other medical centres.

District Health Officer Sachin Desai said, "I'm not aware of this issue. I'll go through the letter; only then can I make a comment."

The Free Press Journal tried contacting Gajanan Patil, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Pune, but couldn't get a response.

Meanwhile, an official informed that funds were received for staff payments on March 31. The bills have been submitted to the higher-ups, and the salaries will be cleared before April 15.