Maharashtra to make 18,000 contract National Health Mission staff permanent

The Maharashtra government has decided to give permanent appointments to 18,000 officers and employees working on contract under the National Health Mission (NHM) in the Public Health Department. The decision opens the way for all of them to be made permanent.

The contract employees and officers concerned had been demanding permanent appointments for several years. The state government has now accepted the demand.

According to the information available, many officers and employees are currently working on contract in various posts under the National Health Mission in different districts of the state. The government has decided to appoint all of them to permanent service. Under the decision, appointment orders for 15,000 to 18,000 employees against additional posts will be distributed this month.

Appointment letters will be handed to the officers and employees in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and Health Minister Meghna Bordikar.

A state-level event will be held in Mumbai to distribute the appointment orders. About 15,000 to 18,000 officers and employees from different districts of the state will be called to it. A letter has been sent to the Mumbai municipal corporation administration asking it to help fix a suitable venue and the necessary facilities, and to provide a ground large enough for such a big gathering along with the required services.

The letter also requests the Mumbai municipal corporation to inform the office of the Commissioner of Health Services which dates in October and which grounds are available.

Since a large number of officers and employees will attend, arrangements have been sought for their convenience. These include seating, drinking water, toilets, electricity and lighting, parking, waste management and security.

The letter also asks for proper arrangements for entry and exit, along with emergency facilities. The facilities at the venue are to be inspected and the necessary improvements and supplementary arrangements made. The office of the Commissioner of Health Services has requested officials of the concerned departments of the municipal corporation to cooperate.