Maha: Over 30,000 NHM employees protest over job regularisation, pay revision
Striking NHM Workers Demand Justice After 18-Month Delay
Pune: Healthcare services across Maharashtra remain severely disrupted as more than 30,000 contractual employees and officers under the National Health Mission (NHM) remain on an indefinite strike that has now entered its 23rd day. In Pune alone, nearly 1,400 NHM workers, including both technical and non-technical staff, have joined the protest.
The protest, which began on August 19, 2025, is spearheaded by the NHM Coordination Committee and centres around 18 key demands. The primary demand is the implementation of a government resolution concerning the regularisation and salary revision of long-serving contract workers.
Also Read:Pune: 35000 Contractual doctors under NHM stage protest demanding permanent post
In Pune, striking employees staged demonstrations at the Aundh District Hospital, demanding that the state Government honour its commitments. Participants include both technical and non-technical staff, with estimates suggesting 25,000-30,000 employees statewide and 1,500 in Pune are currently on strike, reports the Pune Mirror.
The unrest stems from a Government Resolution issued on March 14, 2024, in Aurangabad, which directed that 30% of vacant NHM posts be made permanent for employees who have served on contract for more than 10 years. Despite the official announcement, workers claim there has been no progress in the 18 months since the resolution was passed.
NHM officials highlight that nearly 50% of the health department's workforce operates on a contractual basis, underlining the critical role these employees play in maintaining public healthcare services, especially in rural and urban government hospitals.
The strike has resulted in the crippling of routine healthcare services. Patients in many government facilities are facing long delays and reduced access to medical care.
Also Read: NHM Chhattisgarh hit by mass resignations amid indefinite strike
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that, angered by the government's decision to terminate 25 National Health Mission (NHM) staffers, a total of 14,678 NHM officers and employees across the state have so far submitted their resignations. These mass resignations come amid an indefinite strike that began on August 18, with employees demanding the fulfilment of the ten-point charter, including regularisation of their services.
