Harpal Cheema meets Punjab health employee unions and directs weekly grievance meetings, action on ASHA workers’ demands and vaccination facilities.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema has assured healthcare employee unions that their legitimate demands will receive due consideration and that steps will be taken to address their grievances. During a series of meetings with representatives of unions under the Health and Family Welfare Department on Wednesday, he issued directions to improve working conditions and speed up the resolution of pending issues.

A key focus of the discussions was providing better facilities for ASHA workers and facilitators, who play an important role in delivering healthcare services at the grassroots level. Harpal Cheema directed the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Rural Development and Panchayat Department to arrange suitable spaces, including Panchayat Ghars and other panchayat buildings, for vaccination drives conducted on alternate days.

ASHA Workers’ Demands to Be Taken Up With Cabinet Sub-Committee

During the meetings, Harpal Cheema instructed the Health Department to submit a proposal to the Cabinet Sub-Committee without delay. The proposal will cover casual leave and other legitimate demands raised by ASHA workers and facilitators.

The minister assured union representatives that their remaining concerns were being examined and that a favourable decision could be announced soon. The directions aim to ensure that the issues raised by frontline healthcare workers receive appropriate attention from the concerned authorities.

Providing suitable locations for vaccination activities is another important measure discussed during the meetings. The use of panchayat buildings could help ASHA workers conduct their duties in more appropriate settings.

Weekly Meetings to Address Employee Grievances

Employee representatives also raised several service-related concerns, including salary increases, pay parity, leave policies, regularisation of employment and transparent transfer procedures.

Harpal Cheema directed the Health Department to place all justified demands before the Inter-Departmental Committee for consideration. He also instructed the committee to meet once every week to review employee grievances and work towards their timely resolution.

The weekly meeting schedule is intended to create a regular mechanism for reviewing outstanding issues rather than allowing employee concerns to remain pending for extended periods.

The discussions covered the needs of different sections of Punjab’s healthcare workforce, with union representatives submitting memorandums outlining their respective demands.

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Several Health Employee Unions Participate

Representatives from multiple organisations attended the meetings. Durgo Bai, Balvir Kaur, Rajinder Kaur and Swaran Kaur represented the All India ASHA Workers and Facilitators Union.

The ASHA Workers and Facilitators Union Punjab (CITU) was represented by Saroj Bala, Seema Rani, Joginder Kaur and Parminder Kaur. Kirandweep Kaur, Pawanpreet Kaur and Mandeep Kaur attended on behalf of the ASHA Workers and Facilitators Narol Union.

The NHM Employees Union was represented by Sandeep Kaur, Amandeep Singh, Dinesh Garg and Sukhjeet Singh. Dr Sunil Targotra, Dr Daljeet Kumar and Dr Raj represented the Community Health Officers Association, while Shubam Sharma and Deep Kamboj attended from the Pharmacy Officers’ Association.

Other participating organisations included the Rural Health Pharmacy Officer Union, the Sehat Pharmacy Officer Association, the Government Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Employee Union, and the Punjab AIDS Control Employees Association under the Health Department.

The PCMS Dental Association was represented by Dr Ashutosh Sharma, Dr Dharminder Singh, Dr Harpreet Kaur and Dr Vikrant Sharma.

Focus on Better Working Conditions for Healthcare Staff

The meetings centred on improving workplace facilities, addressing employment-related concerns and establishing a more consistent process for considering employee demands.

Harpal Cheema’s directions cover both immediate operational needs, such as arranging suitable vaccination spaces for ASHA workers, and broader service issues involving pay, leave, regularisation and transfers.

The next steps will involve the submission of proposals to the Cabinet Sub-Committee and the review of justified demands through weekly meetings of the Inter-Departmental Committee. These measures are intended to help the Punjab government assess employee concerns and facilitate timely decisions on the issues raised by healthcare unions.