The Gujarat government has cracked down on healthcare workers who have been protesting for increase in pay and other issues for over 10 days in Gandhinagar. It its first action against the protesting employees of the district primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs), the state government terminated the services of 2,000 health workers from eight districts. 

The health workers on their part have threatened to intensify their protests.

Moreover, the state health department has directed departmental inquiry against more than 1,000 employees. It is believed that the probe may lead to even more terminations.

Following the health department ultimatum, a number of workers are said to be back to work. 

Meanwhile, the Health Workers’ Union has threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if the government does not invite them for talks within two days. 

Currently, more than 2,000 employees from eight districts have been laid off and more than 5,000 employees have been given show cause notices.

What are the demands?

The health workers demand the inclusion in the technical cadre, and regarding the current grade pay of 1900 for multipurpose health worker and female health worker cadre to be increased to 2800 grade pay, and the current grade pay of 2400 for multipurpose health supervisor, female health supervisor, and district level supervisor to be increased to 4200 grade pay.  

Complete exemption from departmental examinations of the above mentioned cadre and also for the administrative and financial issues of staff nurses (panchayat).

The health employees had previously staged a protest against the government in Gandhinagar in September 2022. At the time, due to the upcoming assembly elections, the government had held closed-door discussions with the employees to pacify them.