Discontent brewing among Community Health officers over 'wage disparity' in Bengal
The first grievance is that almost 32 per cent of the total number of health officers have been retained on a contractual basis.
As per statistics, currently there are a total of 11,053 community health officers in West Bengal, and out of them, as many as 3,550 have been retained on a contractual basis.
According to an office bearer of the All India Association of Community Health Officer (AIACHO), first of all, appointing community health officers on a contractual basis is generally against the policy of the NHM since in case of contractual employment, the officials concerned are denied of other benefits like provident fund, gratuity and medical insurance benefits, among others.
Even if a community health officer is employed on a contractual basis, a minimum payment, both in terms of consolidated pay and additional incentives, has to be ensured, the office bearer said.
"As per the NHM guidelines, a community health officer who has been appointed on a contractual basis should receive a consolidated monthly payment of Rs 27,500 in addition to a minimum monthly incentive of Rs 15,000. Individual state governments have the liberty to pay consolidated pay and incentives above the minimum amount under these two heads. But the minimum amounts under both these heads are required to be followed by all state governments," the AIACHO office bearer pointed out.
However, he added, in the case of West Bengal, a community health officer who has been appointed on a contractual basis is paid much less under both the heads of consolidated pay and monthly incentives.
In West Bengal, the monthly consolidated payment for such contractual community health officers is fixed at Rs 19,870, and the monthly incentive has been fixed at Rs 5,000, thus adding up to a total of just Rs 24,870.
"Even in our neighbouring state of Odisha, a community health officer retained on a contractual basis is receiving a monthly pay of Rs 55,000 under the two heads combined. This disparity must end, and we must receive at least on par with the minimum amount fixed under the central policy," the AIACHO office bearer said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
32 students, 2 cops collapse at I-Day event due to extreme heat
1 2 Silchar : Around 20 students collapsed due to exhaustion during the celebrations of the 79th Independence Day in Silchar as the morning turned hot and humid following a short spell of rain. A total of 12 school girls and two police officers also collapsed during celebrations in Sribhumi district. Medical teams rushed to provide first aid, and the affected students were later shifted to hospitals. Officials said their condition was stable and the situation was under control. On the other hand, Assam minister for Barak Valley development, Kaushik Rai, on Friday said the Barak Valley was emerging as a model of transformation under the leadership of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Addressing a large gathering at the District Sports Association (DSA) ground after hoisting the tricolour on the 79th Independence Day, Rai listed major infrastructure, healthcare, education and welfare initiatives that he said had put the state firmly on the path of prosperity. Highlighting ongoing projects, Rai pointed to four-lane highways worth thousands of crores, the Rs 24,000 crore Barapani–Panchgram Expressway approved by the Union Cabinet, and the East-West Corridor slated for completion by 2026. He said work on the Shilghat Barak River Bridge, Madhuraghat Bridge and the Rs 700 crore Rangirkhari–Capital Point flyover were progressing rapidly. The Barak Valley secretariat is scheduled for inauguration in Jan 2026, he added. In healthcare, Rai cited the near-completion of a Rs 165 crore 500-bed block at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, a JICA-funded super-speciality hospital, a new medical college at Lakhipur and the sanctioned Sribhumi Medical College. He noted that Assam's maternal and infant mortality rates had fallen sharply in recent years, calling it a major achievement under the National Health Mission. The minister also touched on rural housing under PMAY-G, financial support to farmers via PM-Kisan, welfare schemes for women and tea workers, and the expansion of food security measures. He said Assam's GSDP was projected to reach Rs 7.25 lakh crore in FY 2025–26, reflecting robust growth. Minister Krishnendu Paul hoisted the tricolour in Sribhumi district, while Hailakandi deputy commissioner Abhishek Jain led the celebrations there. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
National Health Mission employees threaten indefinite strike from Aug 19
Pune: National Health Mission (NHM) employees under zilla parishad Pune have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Aug 19, demanding among others regularisation of contractual staff, a 15% honorarium hike, group insurance, and implementation of a transfer policy. A statement issued by State NHM Officers and Employees United Committee, Maharashtra, on Monday said that the govt resolution issued on March 14, 2024, mandated regularisation of employees with more than 10 years of service. However, there has been no action in this regard even after 17 months, it said. Their 20-point charter of demands also include loyalty bonus, EPF coverage, gratuity benefits, ₹50 lakh ex-gratia for accidental death, and ₹25 lakh for permanent disability, along with medical assistance between ₹2 and ₹5 lakh in case of accidents on duty. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Gold Rates Today in Pune | Silver Rates Today in Pune During the protest, all NHM offices and health institutions in the state will suspend their operations, reports, meetings, and both online and offline work, the statement said. Among other pending demands are pay rationalisation, merging their honorarium into a consolidated amount, an official announcment of vacancies by the department, reforms in the performance appraisal system, introduction of hardship allowances for remote and Naxal-affected areas, and creation of the post of a third BAMS medical officer at every primary health centre. The union has warned that if the health department does not hold an immediate meeting to discuss these demands, the strike will intensify. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Perception of border villages as last villages has transformed: Nadda
New Delhi, Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Thursday said the perception of border villages as the last villages of the country has transformed in recent years, with a new vision of recognising them as the first villages of the nation and developing them into vibrant hubs. Perception of border villages as last villages has transformed: Nadda He made the remarks as he chaired a courtesy meeting with representatives from villages of five states and Union Territories Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh covered under the Phase-I of the Vibrant Villages Programme . Nadda informed that 662 border villages have been identified under Phase-1 of the programme. He highlighted that the Union Health Ministry has endeavoured to establish at least one Ayushman Arogya Mandir for every 1,000-1,500 people in these areas, complemented by mobile medical units to ensure healthcare access for all. The VVP was launched on April 10, 2023 by the Ministry of Home Affairs for identified villages of strategic importance in blocks abutting the northern border in mission mode, to improve the quality of life of people living in the identified border villages. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Nadda said, "The perception of border villages as the last villages of the country has transformed in recent years, with a new vision of recognising them as the first villages of the nation and developing them into vibrant hubs." He emphasised that women's and youth empowerment has been a central focus of this initiative, with training and skill development programmes aimed at fostering entrepreneurship in areas such as horticulture and floriculture. These efforts, he said, are designed to encourage reverse migration and stimulate the growth of these remote regions. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava underlined that the Vibrant Villages Programme is a key initiative of the Government of India. She reaffirmed the Union Health Ministry's commitment to delivering healthcare services to every corner of the country, noting that "58 projects have already been sanctioned under the National Health Mission, and mobile medical units are being deployed in the border villages." Village representatives from five states expressed their gratitude to the Union government for advancing the development of their villages and for inviting them to Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day. They noted significant improvements in road connectivity and healthcare facilities under the scheme, and urged the Government to extend the initiative to additional villages not covered in Phase-1. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
