Disengagement Dissent Grows Among COVID Care Workers, Odisha Govt Says Reengagement Unlikely

Bhubaneswar: Dashing the hopes of women COVID Care Workers who have been disengaged from service, Odisha Health Minister Naba Das on Friday clarified that their employment was purely contractual in nature and so the government is unlikely to reengage them.

Das' comments came after the health condition of some of the protesting woman COVID Care Workers and ANMs reportedly deteriorated in Bhubaneswar.

Sources said, some of the ANM workers fainted while protesting and were admitted to the hospital for treatment.

As per reports, disengaged female health care workers earlier posted at different COVID Care Centres (CCCs) and COVID Care Homes (CCHs) continue to stage their demands for regularisation of their jobs and payment of pending salaries for the last 14 days.

Thousands of such health care workers have been protesting against the government’s action at Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar since 28 November 2020.

They alleged that the state government laid them off from work when the threat of COVID19 is still looming large in Odisha and there is chance of second wave of Coronavirus outbreak. The protesters have also leveled allegations on non-payment of their salaries of some months.

A protesting health worker said, "If the COVID situation in Odisha is now under control, then it is because of us. We have put our lives at risk to serve the humanity. I believe, the government will definitely hear us out."

"We are already on the road for the past fortnight. If the government does not pay heed to our demands, we will block road and intensify our protest," said another protester.

However, Health Minister Naba Das seemed to reject their demands of regularisation of their jobs. Speaking to OTV, Das said, "We had appointed them on a temporary basis to fight the menace of Coronavirus. If they want to get jobs, then they should apply for the new vacancies being created in the health department."

"I request all of them to wait for the advertisements for jobs and apply as per the norms. If they secure sufficient marks, nobody is going to deny them a job," concluded Das.

In a related development, health workers in Bolangir and Rayagada have also come down to protest the decision to disengage them from the hospitals.

As per reports, health workers in Bolangir's Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital were engaged in April this year to serve the patients during COVID pandemic. However, the hospital authorities are reportedly consulting with the government to disengage them from their duty.
Fearing their ouster, the health workers staged protest in front of the hospital disrupting the service.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)