Contractual health workers in Bihar begin indefinite strike

Nearly 80,000 contractual health employees in Bihar began an indefinite strike on Monday seeking job regularisation, officials said.

The striking health employees include auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM), Asha workers, district programme managers, monitoring and evaluation officers, data entry officers and accountants and paramedical staff, under the banner of Bihar State Contractual Health Employees Association.

"Our strike has paralysed the government-run hospitals to health centres across the state," said Manoj Kumar Singh, an agitating health employee.

Earlier contractual school teachers went on indefinite strike in April. They called off the strike last month after the government promised them a pay hike.

Home Guard personnel are also on an indefinite strike which began in May.