The Gujarat government has sacked over 1,300 healthcare workers across the state as their indefinite strike to seek better salary continued on Thursday.
The government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act against the healthcare staffers posted across the state to demand better pay scales, inclusion in technical cadres, and the cancellation of departmental examinations.
A government official said about 11,000 healthcare workers participated in the strike and were issued show-cause notices. “More than 1,300 have been removed from service as they did not resume work despite repeated notices,” the official said, adding that only 5,000 workers were still on strike,
“The government is considering all possible options to reach an amicable solution,” the official added.
Health minister Rushikesh Patel told reporters that the government will hold talks to find a solution only after the strike is called off. “Not before that,” he said.
The mass termination of staffers sparked outrage among opposition leaders and labour unions.
Congress leader Amit Chavda condemned the government’s decision, arguing that the workers who played a crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic were being penalised for demanding their rights.
“These employees have long raised financial and administrative demands, and while the government has held multiple talks, it refuses to implement its own committee’s recommendations,” he said.
The strike, which began on March 12, has impacted healthcare services across the state.
The government ordered the termination of employees who did not comply with return-to-work notices, with over 400 dismissals in Sabarkantha district alone.
In Sabarkantha, about 115 healthcare workers of sub-centres and primary health centres returned to duty after receiving notices, but about 405 continued to absent themselves and were terminated. Additionally, 55 supervisors face chargesheets and an inquiry, said officials.
Community health officers and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers have been deployed to minimise disruption of health services in rural areas.
According to the health workers, they had staged a massive protest in the state capital in September 2022 ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections. At the time, the BJP government promised to meet their demands but hadn’t kept their promise. Hindustan Times