MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy Urges Government to Resolve NHM Employees’ Grievances

Dubbak MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy has urged the Central and Telangana governments to address the long-standing grievances of National Health Mission (NHM) employees, many of whom have been working on contract and outsourcing terms for more than two decades. He expressed solidarity with employees who have been staging relay hunger strikes for the past 17 days in front of the Siddipet Collectorate, demanding better service conditions and job security.

Speaking in support of the protesting staff, Prabhakar Reddy said the government should recognise the contributions of healthcare workers who continued to serve the public even during critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, risking their lives to provide essential medical services. He noted that thousands of employees, from doctors to attendants, play a vital role in delivering healthcare and protecting public health across the state.

Recalling the previous BRS government’s emphasis on employee welfare, the MLA called on the Revanth Reddy-led government to respond positively to the concerns of NHM personnel and fulfil their legitimate demands. He stressed that employees who have served the healthcare system for years should not be left in uncertainty over their employment and financial security.

Prabhakar Reddy demanded the regularisation of contract and outsourcing employees across all 78 NHM cadres. Until the process is completed, he urged the authorities to resolve their immediate grievances and provide clear assurances about their future. He also called for cadre fixation in accordance with government rules and court directions, payment of full salaries, and a review of the outsourcing agency system. Employees, he suggested, should continue under the State Health Society to ensure greater stability.

The MLA further sought timely salary payments by the fifth of every month, annual increments and the clearance of pending loyalty bonuses. He also demanded 180 days of paid maternity leave for women employees and ₹20 lakh in ex gratia compensation for families of staff members who die while in service, along with a job for one eligible family member.

He urged the government to reconsider G.O. 1195, which provides for transferring contract employees to outsourcing agencies. Prabhakar Reddy also called for examining employee welfare measures adopted by other states and implementing suitable policies in Telangana to ensure job security, fair compensation and improved working conditions for NHM staff.