Over 5,200 CHOs have been protesting in Freedom Park
Bengaluru: Over 5,200 community health officers (CHOs) working at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) across Karnataka have been protesting for six days, demanding regularisation of services, revision of salaries and fulfilment of other demands. Under the aegis of Akhila Karnataka Community Health NHM Contract Employees’ Association, CHOs began their protest on Sept 28 with a march from Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru to Nelamangala. They subsequently reached Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Sept 29, where they have been protesting.
Services across 6,200 AAMs have been affected due to the indefinite strike. AAMs, formerly known as health and wellness centres, are primary healthcare facilities under National Health Mission (NHM) that provide preventive, promotive and basic curative healthcare services at the community level.
“We want our posts to be regularised and a cadre to be created so that our jobs are secure. Health department officials said govt had assured the protesters that their jobs were secure, but some of their demands could not be fulfilled due to policy constraints. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
We also want the state govt to withdraw the requirement of B.Sc nursing qualification for the posts of primary health officer and health inspecting officer, as the new qualification requirement could adversely affect the future of CHOs who are already serving in the health system,” said Vasanth Kumar C, a representative of the association. Other demands, such as cadre creation and regularisation, are not easy to implement as these are not covered under NHM guidelines,” said Ritwik Ranjanam Pandey, principal secretary, health department. We will soon issue a written acknowledgement that this will not affect jobs of those already working in the system. Download the TOI App.
“I have met the protesters and assured them that mandating B.Sc nursing is a standardisation measure, as the qualification required earlier is not recognised elsewhere.