Over 17,000 NHM contract employees in Telangana announce two-day strike from November 7

The National Health Mission (NHM) Contract and Outsourcing Employees Union, Telangana, has announced a two-day Statewide strike on November 7 and 8, to press for long-pending demands, including pay revision and job regularisation. The union stated that if their concerns are not addressed, they will hold a State-level protest in Hyderabad on November 17.

The employees are demanding equal pay for equal work, timely payment of salaries, regularisation of long-serving contract and outsourcing staff, and better working conditions. According to the union, around 17,541 NHM employees working in 78 different programmes across the State will participate in the strike.

The employees, including medical officers, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists and support staff, have said that despite repeated representations, the government has not responded to their grievances.

Union leaders said the NHM workers have been serving in crucial roles for years but continue to face low wages, lack of job security and delays in salary disbursement.