Kerala: NHM Employees Hold 5-Day Protest, Demand Disbursal of Central Funds
U P Joseph, president NHMEF and state secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions lit the ‘Flame of Protest’ during the struggle of NHM employees in Thrissur.
Workers of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Kerala are yet to receive their salary since January this year. The number of schemes, including insurance, diagnostic charges, cath lab and consumables, implemented through the NHM are struck with depleting funds. The state mission of the NHM is yet to receive 60% funds, the total Central share for this financial year.
Condemning the negligent approach of the Union government, the NHM Employees Federation (NHMEF) held a five-day protest from March 11 across the state. The workers have been accusing the Union government of unwanted interference in the implementation of various schemes, including insistence on co-branding.
The NHMEF has called for a state council meeting on March 17 to decide on the future course of action against the continuous neglect affecting both workers and common people, who rely on different services provided through various NHM schemes.
Speaking with Newsclick, U P Joseph, president of NHMEF, accused the Union government of choking the deserving share of funds for the state. “The workers are yet to receive their salary since January. Most of the works are only minimally implemented, affecting the common people''.
The federation has claimed that the scheme, which is executed with 60% share from the Centre and 40% share from the state government, is yet to receive the Central share of around Rs 820 crore. Most recently, the employees held marches to Union government offices on February 20 on their demands.
“The workers are holding various forms of protests including, lighting of the flame of protest in front of NHM Mission and Union government offices, cooking food on the streets, holding black flags and displaying placards carrying their demands. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Union government is specifically targeting Kerala even though the state tops in several health indices”, Joseph said.
P K Sajan, central working committee member of CITU in the protest.
The NHMEF has also been accusing the Union government of changing goal-posts in order to delay the transfer of funds to the state, including insistence of displaying different logos as part of the co-branding exercise, renaming of family health centres etc.
“After we completed co-branding in the health centres, the Union health ministry directed the state to change the name of the health centres, which the state government has strongly objected to. They are finding different reasons to deny us funds”, Meera Nair, general secretary of NHMEF, told Newsclick.
Workers hold placards with demands during the five-day struggle.
“The ongoing protests are being held without affecting any NHM work. The workers know the importance of their work since thousands of needy patients would be left stranded without supply of medicines, diagnosis and other needs. But the Union government’s neglect is putting thousands of workers to untold hardships”, Joseph said.
The federation members met state health minister Veena George to appraise her of their pathetic situation, working without wages for the past two months. The state government has transferred its share of 40% to the mission for running the schemes with minimal provisions.
“The state council meeting scheduled on March 17 would take a call on the next protest programme since continuation of the present situation is equally affecting workers and beneficiaries”, Joseph added.
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