Aizawl: Several contractual health workers in Mizoram staged a protest on Wednesday demanding the regularisation of their services and opposing the state government’s move to recruit fresh candidates through direct recruitment.
The demonstration, organised by the Mizoram Contract Health Workers Association, was held in response to a recent advertisement issued by the state health department to appoint 100 new health workers via open recruitment.
Protesters called the move a breach of repeated assurances made by government officials, including ministers, who had earlier promised that existing National Health Mission (NHM) workers would be given priority based on seniority and years of service.
“We have been serving under the NHM for years in difficult and remote areas. Despite several assurances of regularisation based on our experience, the government has now decided to overlook us and go for fresh recruitment,” said one protesting health worker.
The association demanded that at least 50 out of the 100 vacancies be reserved for current NHM contract workers.
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It also urged the government to amend recruitment rules to accommodate those who have crossed the age limit or lack computer skills due to limited access in remote postings — barriers that could prevent them from applying under the current criteria.
The protestors accused the government of backtracking on its promises and said the recent developments have left long-serving contract workers disillusioned and insecure about their future.
The association has submitted a memorandum to the state government seeking immediate intervention and policy changes to ensure that existing workers are not left behind.
