The ongoing Covid vaccination and other health services at Sadar Hospital of Dhanbad was disrupted for more than four hours from 8am to 12 noon after 148 health workers boycotted work demanding immediate release of three months pending salary.

The agitating workers including ANM, GNM, compounders, lab technicians, dressers, ward boys, etc protested against the Sadar Hospital administration and district administration also demanded incentives for their work during the pandemic.

The protesters charged that while health workers of other hospitals of the district, including National Rural Health Mission workers are getting their regular payment and incentives, only 148 health workers of Sadar Hospital recruited through District Mineral Foundation Trust Fund in 2017 are facing the salary delay and other incentives due to payment.

Meanwhile, due to the disruption of vaccination, over 200 people of 18 above age group faced difficulties until the issue was resolved at around 12 noon after the intervention of nodal officer of Sadar Hospital Dr Rajkumar Singh.

Talking to the media during the agitation at Sadar Hospital, Shivli Banerjee, a GNM of the Hospital said, “We are facing salary delay almost every month ever since we joined work four years ago despite the fact that we are serving the people risking our and our family members life during the time of pandemic.”

“While our colleagues in other hospitals of the district including Sahid Nirmal Mahto Memorial Medical College and Hospital and different Community Health Workers are getting regular Salaries only the staff of Sadar Hospital are facing the problem of delayed Salary and other incentives compelling us to resort to work boycott today,” said Banerjee and added that they have been assured payment of salary within four to five days and if the payment doesn’t come they will be compelled to go on an indefinite strike.

Satyendra Kumar Rawani, a resident of Gaya in Bihar, who was standing in long queue of Covaxin administration at the hospital since 8 am said, “Due to lack of vaccines in Gaya I booked the slot at Sadar Hospital of Dhanbad but faced a lot of difficulty here due to work boycott of the health workers and finally got vaccinated at around 12.30.”

Dr Rajkumar Singh, nodal officer of Sadar Hospital admittedly said, “There was some disturbance due to pending salaries and other issues but the issue was resolved as we apprised the staff that their May salary allotment has already arrived while June and July salary is also likely to be credited in their account within three four days.”