Covid vaccination drive launched by Punjab government may get a jolt
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Punjab government’s all effort in implementing the covid vaccination drive , may all go in vain, as the employees of National Health Mission (NHM) are up in the ante against the state government, for dilly delaying in keeping their promises.
In order to arrest the Covid fatality rate in Punjab, the Chief Secretary, Vini Mahajan, on Friday directed the Health Department to further ramp up the ongoing vaccination drive so as to achieve the target of vaccinating 2 lakh persons per day as instructed by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
But, the force- NHM employees, who helps the health department in curbing the covid, making covid vaccination drive a success, are going on a strike, as the state health department is not responding to their demands.
As per Amarjit Singh, state president of NHM employee’s association said, “the state health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and Secretary, Health & Family Welfare and in addition Project Director, National Health Mission Kumar Rahil IAS had praised our services, during the covid pandemic, last year. Health minister assured us that our services from outsource category will be regularised, as a reward to our tireless service to the humanity and the residents of Punjab, in the covid pandemic. But till date, they failed to keep their promises.”
He added that, even our MD, Kumar Rahul IAS had assured us that “we will be covered under Ayushman Bharat scheme, earned leave facility will be given us, along with other demands.” But, around 4 months have passed, not a single word is heard from them, on this issue.”
Elaborating further, Amarjit Singh said, even we are not confirmed whether our 29 years old lab technician colleague, would get the benefits of Corona Warrior or not, as she died while fighting corona.”
On the strike’s issue, Amarajit said, “we had already given the intimation to the government and now our state body, workers will meet on April 14, 2021 at Ludhiana, to further chalk out the modalities of the strike. During the strike, NHM employees will not participate in the covid vaccination drive and will boycott the emergency services, as well.”
Covid vaccination drive launched by Punjab government may get a jolt. When tried to contact Kumar Rahul, IAS, his number remained busy.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary, Vini Mahajan, on Friday announced a special fund of Rs 1 crore to every district for effective Covid management in the state. “There is no constraint of funds to fight the pandemic,” she asserted, while chairing a high-level meeting to review the current Covid situation in the state, here on Friday.
The Chief Secretary also directed the Health Department to observe two days (Tuesday and Friday) every week as mega vaccination days to cover the maximum people to defeat the virus. She also set the state’s weekly inoculation target to more than 16 lakh beneficiaries for the month of April.
April 10,2021
