Editor,
Through the columns of your widely read daily, I would like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned and the general public to the serious and growing concerns of the non-technical employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Arunachal Pradesh.
For the past three consecutive months, NHM employees have not received their monthly remuneration. This prolonged delay has pushed many into severe financial hardship, making it extremely difficult to manage basic needs such as food, rent, children’s education, and medical expenses. These employees – most of whom depend entirely on this income – are now facing immense mental and emotional stress, with no clarity on when their rightful dues will be released.
Despite such challenges, NHM employees – especially the non-technical staff – have continued to perform their duties with dedication, contributing significantly to the implementation of key national health programmes and uninterrupted delivery of essential public health services throughout the state.
However, it is disheartening to note that non-technical employees remain systematically neglected. Even after nearly three decades of loyal service, not a single non-technical employee has been absorbed into the regular government system. In contrast, technical staffers such as doctors, nurses, and laboratory technicians are often prioritized in terms of policy benefits, career progression, and job security.
The government’s continued indifference towards the non-technical workforce, combined with delayed salaries, has led to widespread demoralization. If timely and fair action is not taken, it may also affect the overall performance and stability of public health services.
Through this letter, I earnestly urge the authorities to take immediate steps to release the pending salaries, and to address the longstanding demand for the regularization or absorption of non-technical NHM employees.
Madhu Beyong