Pune: Health Department Contract Workers Decry Government Negligence Despite Decades of Service

Pune, 23rd November 2023: In a glaring display of discontent, officers and employees of the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Department in the Government of Maharashtra Public Health Department serving for 20 to 25 years, find themselves relegated to one-year contracts, raising concerns and demands for job security and fair treatment.

The Health Department’s office, based in the Yerawada (Vishrantwadi) area of the city, oversees the management of health departments in various districts across the state, particularly after the closure of the Mumbai office. In 1998, nearly two and a half thousand officers and employees were actively engaged in spreading awareness about tuberculosis and leprosy in both urban and rural areas.

However, the current scenario is starkly different, with approximately thirty-five thousand officers and employees operating in diverse roles, including doctors, nurses, drivers, and accountants since 2005. The surprise stems from the fact that these professionals, with decades of service, are hired on eleven-month contracts without any provision for government holidays, leave, or essential benefits such as petrol allowance, Diwali bonus, and medical leave.

While these officers have showcased exceptional dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, their efforts seem to be overlooked by the government. Despite providing medical treatment to patients suffering from tuberculosis or leprosy, many officers and employees face the risk of infection, and some even lose their lives in the line of duty.

The absence of permanent positions and benefits has left many officers dissatisfied, and allegations of governmental negligence loom large. Dr. Bablu Pathan, National President of the Health Mission Officers and Employees Federation, expressed the urgent need for the state government to address the prolonged neglect in the health department.

Social activist Laxman Kate questioned the government’s priorities, stating, “If the government cannot solve the main problems of the officials and employees of the health department, how can it address the problems of the public?”