16,000 NHM Employees in Chhattisgarh Resign After 18 Days of Strike; 25 Staff Dismissed

Raipur
The protest by National Health Mission (NHM) contractual employees in Chhattisgarh has escalated, with around 16,000 staff members submitting mass resignations after 18 days of an indefinite strike.

District NHM Union organising secretary Aman Das confirmed the resignations, though CMHO Dr Mithilesh Chaudhary clarified that while the memorandums have been received, they have not been accepted.

In Durg alone, around 850 NHM employees submitted their resignations. Meanwhile, the health department has initiated strict action, dismissing 25 employees on Wednesday, including state NHM employees’ union patron Hemant Sinha and general secretary Kaushlesh Tiwari.

The striking employees alleged that the system is trying to suppress their protest instead of holding dialogue. “The administration has closed the doors of discussion, leaving us with no option but to continue our protest,” they said.

Over the past two weeks, NHM employees have staged unique demonstrations — dancing wearing masks of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and Health Minister, and even writing letters in their own blood — to press their demands.