Dozens of contractual health workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Mizoram staged a protest on Wednesday, demanding the regularisation of their jobs and voicing strong opposition to the state government’s latest recruitment policy. The agitation, organised by the Mizoram Contract Health Workers Association (MCHWA), followed a recent health department notification announcing the direct recruitment of 100 new health workers. Protesters called this move a betrayal, citing repeated assurances from government officials, including ministers, that experienced contractual staff would be prioritised for permanent roles.
One protester highlighted that many have served for years in remote and challenging locations, only to be overlooked despite earlier promises. The association demanded that at least 50 of the 100 new vacancies be reserved for current contractual staff. They also urged the government to amend recruitment rules, noting challenges such as age limits and lack of access to computer training for long-serving workers. MCHWA affirmed that protests would continue until the government takes meaningful action to protect their employment.
