Contractual Health Officers demand clarity on job roles and permanent employment

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Around 6,000 Contractual Health Officers (CHOs) across the state have gathered in unison for an indefinite strike at Freedom Park on Tuesday.

This is against the lack of a clear demarcation of roles and responsibilities prescribed to them by the Health Department of Karnataka.

Despite being well qualified and being put into six months of training thereafter, Health officers, who are employed on a contract basis, have alleged that they’re told to work in places where they are not familiar.

Laxmi N Kannur, an health officer from Belagavi had alleged that even earning qualification on a merit basis, she is told to work in ‘cadres’ which she is not trained at.

“I had earned a qualification in sciences and psychology, but I am put into unfamiliar places like nursing and lab technology! This affects our way of work and people who come here for treatment are left with confusion,” she explained.

A well defined job description and a demarcation of work between different cadres needs to be set, protestors have demanded. Permanent status of employment, for the ones who complete six years is another demand.

“The guidelines need to be implemented by the state, until then, all of us would fight for it,” Kannur said.

President of the Contractual Employees Union Mamith Gayakwad said, “Well qualified people come here to protest to get what they deserve. We would like the Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, to address our grievances,” he concluded.

Three Administrative and program head officers had arrived at the spot to strike a deal and withdraw the protest. However, protesters have said the protest will continue until demands are met.

Last February, a protest ensued, demanding a 15% hike in salaries, which reportedly impacted health services across the state.