Fri May 16 19:44:33 IST 2025: **Summary:**

The Contract and Outsourced Workers’ Association of Karnataka State Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Department is protesting the state government’s plan to remove thousands of contract employees of the National Health Mission (NHM). The association is demanding the regularization of existing NHM employees, pay raises, and job security for various roles within the health department, threatening agitation if their demands are unmet. They highlight the workers’ service, especially during the pandemic, and remind the government of their election promises to regularize health department employees.

**News Article:**

**Karnataka Health Workers Protest Mass Layoff Fears, Demand Regularization**

**MYSURU, May 16, 2025** – Thousands of contract workers with the National Health Mission (NHM) in Karnataka are facing potential job loss, sparking outrage from the Contract and Outsourced Workers’ Association of Karnataka State Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Department. The association held a press conference in Mysuru on Friday to voice their strong opposition to the state government’s reported move to remove these workers, many of whom have served for 16 to 17 years.

“These workers have served selflessly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite receiving meagre salaries and no benefits,” stated K.S. Shivaramu, honorary advisor of the association and president of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum. “They should be supported, not pushed into insecurity.”

Shivaramu criticized Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao’s reported intent to seek resignations from current contract workers, deeming it “unacceptable” and “unjust” to offer better salaries only to new recruits. He reminded the ruling Congress party of its election promise to regularize health department employees and appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to intervene.

The association is demanding a policy to regularize 30,000 existing NHM employees out of 38,000 posts, while also filling remaining vacancies. Other demands include absorbing Data Entry Operators (DEO) under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (ABArK) scheme, retaining 96 staff members of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, releasing a recommended 15% salary hike (with a call for a 30% annual increase), and allowing Asha mentors to choose between staff nurse or mentor roles.

The association has threatened to launch an agitation if their demands are not met, urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure the job security of NHM workers. The future of thousands of healthcare workers hangs in the balance as the state government faces mounting pressure to address their concerns.

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