Water canons used to foil NHM workers march

The police on Monday used water canons to disperse the protestors of National Health Mission (NHM), who are on strike since March 1 demanding regularisation of their jobs.

The workers called for regularisation of employees completing 7-years of service against 'equivalent' vacant posts in the department.

Protesting for a long time, these workers want the government to fulfill our various demands, including brining the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) employees under the ambit of a new employment policy.

Earlier on Monday, the police used batons to halt the protest of workers in press colony, while hundreds of workers were trying to march towards the Chief Minister residence.

Nearly two dozen contractual employees were taken into preventive custody here after they tried to take out a rally in support of their demands, including the demand for regularisation of their services and proper pay scale.

On February 1, the NHM employees had called for 72-hour pen down strike. However, they extended it for next 72 hours on February 3.