NHM Contractual Health Workers In Maharashtra Go Unpaid for Three Months; Plan Protest At Pune Zilla Parishad
Pune, 15th April 2025: Hundreds of contractual health workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) across various districts in Maharashtra, including doctors and nurses, have not received their salaries for the past three months. Frustrated by the delay, these workers are set to stage a one-day protest at the Pune Zilla Parishad office on 15th April.
In Pune district alone, around 2,200 healthcare personnel are employed under the NHM on a contractual basis. These include specialist doctors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, and community medical officers working across district hospitals, rural hospitals, sub-district hospitals, and other medical facilities.
Harshal Ranavare, Committee Head, NHM Contractual Officers and Employees Committee in Pune, stated that the organization has already submitted a formal letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the Pune Zilla Parishad, demanding immediate release of the pending salaries.
As part of a symbolic protest, NHM staff in Pune wore black ribbons from 9th April to 14th April. However, with no resolution in sight and salaries for January, February, and March still unpaid, they have announced a sit-in protest on 15th April.
Ranavare also noted that salary disbursement has been irregular for the last six months, severely impacting the livelihoods of essential healthcare workers who have continued to serve in public health institutions despite challenging conditions.
