Maharashtra: Thousands of Health Department Officers and Employees Face a Dark Diwali Without Salaries
Pune, 16th October 2025: Even as the Health Minister recently announced a 15% salary hike for contractual officers and employees under the National Health Mission (NHM), many of them have not received their regular pay for the past two months. Salaries for August and September remain unpaid, leaving thousands of families facing a bleak Diwali.
Across Maharashtra, over 50,000 officers and employees work under the NHM, including around 2,500 in Pune. The state government has begun transitioning to the new E-Sparsh digital payment system for salary processing. However, officials say it is technically impossible for the system to become fully operational before Diwali. As a result, NHM staff members continue to wait for their pending payments, prompting growing frustration among employees who are urging the government to release salaries before the festival.
The National Health Mission Integration Committee has written to the Commissioner of Health Services, urging immediate intervention. State Coordinator Vijay Gaikwad stated that funds remain available under the 15th Finance Commission in every district and could be utilized to disburse the pending wages.
“NHM employees have essential financial commitments like household expenses, school fees, and loan repayments. The government must ensure they receive their salaries before Diwali,” Gaikwad said, requesting permission to use unspent district-level or Finance Commission funds to pay August and September dues.
Salary Hike Announced on October 9
NHM employees had earlier staged a 23-day statewide strike demanding the implementation of the government resolution issued on March 14, 2024. The indefinite strike began on August 19 and was organized jointly by 16 unions from the health services sector. Following a written assurance from Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, employees called off their strike on September 10.
Subsequently, on October 9, the government announced a 15% salary hike.
“After we went on strike, the Health Department approved the salary hike. But we haven’t been paid for the past two months. Before implementing the hike, the government should first clear our pending dues before Diwali. Without our salaries, our Diwali will truly be dark,” said Harshal Ranaware, District Coordinator, National Health Mission.
