A stable work force gives a firm foundation to the health care of the nation. The entire work force of the National Health Mission is contractual/voluntary.Critical changes are required to sustain their morale and performance.Employing lakhs of people as non permanent staff for a decade in a government program, is a gross violation of the workers’ rights.
CONTRACT WORKERS
According to the press release of MOHFW (July 22, 2014) the contracted workers
include Medical Officers, Specialists, Ayush Doctors, Staff Nurses, ANMs,
Paramedics, District Program Managers , District Account Managers and Statistical assistant  . In addition, ASHA Facilitators are also on contract.
States like Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan Jammu and Kashmir, Union territory of Delhi and Haryana are proposing to regularize the employment of contracted NHM workers.
https://lnkd.in/fDBXsXs
We support this move .
By 2017, adequate funding should be allotted by MoHFW and suitable guidelines
should be issued from the MoHFW to all the states and union territories for the
following :
1. All the states and union territories should regularize all NHM contract workers.
2. Similar pay and benefits should be given for all the contracted workers within NHM in all the states.
3. All NHM contracted workers should receive social security under Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESI Act), Employees’ Provident Funds Act, 1952, Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 (WC Act), Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (M.B. Act) and Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (P.G. Act)
4. All salaries should be linked to the inflation rate. Norms for increments should be devised.
5. There should be representation of NHM workers in all policy related bodies set up for regularization. NHM workers and ASHAs .