Ri Bhoi casual health workers urge CM to regularise salary, jobs

SHILLONG: The Casual Workers’ Health Association (CWHA) in Ri Bhoi has petitioned Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Friday apprising him of the irregularity in payment and regularisation of experienced workers.
Shanrupa Thangkhiew, president of CWHA, said the casual health workers in the district are getting their salary once a year. “Our salaries are pending since last April. It becomes difficult for us to sustain ourselves,” Thangkhiew said.
The CWHA president said earlier they had met the minister in charge of the Health Department and other officials but their requests fell on deaf ears.
The casual health workers have requested the chief minister to take steps to release their unpaid salary at the earliest.
Besides, the association also urged Sangma to regularise casual workers who have been serving for the last 10-15 years.
“Some workers are old and experienced and they deserve to be regularised,” said Thangkhiew, who is an employee of Civil Hospital, Nongpoh, and has been working for the last 10 years.
The casual workers have also demanded equal pay to all social workers as emphasised by the Centre and upheld by the Supreme Court.
The association did not get to meet the chief minister but submitted the memorandum to his personal assistant.