NHM staff in Maharashtra are facing financial strain as their salaries remain unpaid for two months, prompting urgent calls for action.
The NMH Contractual Officers and Staff Association reached out to the health commissioner, Ranga Naik, on January 21. They’re really worried about how this delay is affecting everyone.
In Maharashtra, there are around 35,000 NHM staff, with nearly 2,855 in Pune alone. This group includes doctors, nurses, and various technicians. They’re all waiting for their paychecks.
The association’s letter pointed out that salaries for November and December are still missing. They’re frontline workers, and it’s baffling to them why the payments are delayed.
Harshal Ranavre, the association’s president in Pune, mentioned that staff from 27 districts are in the same boat. There’s a funding issue, and while some local bodies managed to pay their staff, many haven’t received anything for two months.
Viraj Jagtap, one of the NHM staff, shared that this delay is unusual. They’ve always been paid on time before, but since November 2024, things have changed.
Naik has promised to look into the situation, but for now, the uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on these dedicated workers.