SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 17: Multi-Purpose Workers (MPW) of the state, engaged in malaria elimination programme in Jharkhand, have announced to boycott the month-long Deoghar–Basukinath Shravan Mela starting from July 22.
Jharkhand State MPW Karmchari Sangh, the frontal organization of 1572 employees, has shot off a letter to the chief minister, health minister, chief secretary, principal secretary of health, director-in-chief of health department and state malaria officer.
The decision to boycott was taken at a meeting of the state body held in Ranchi on Tuesday evening.
A copy of the notice has also been sent to the civil surgeon of Deoghar and Dumka and other concerned officials.
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Demand for job regularisation
In its notice, the MPWs Sangh has also announced to gherao the health minister’s residence at Karamtoli, Ranchi on July 19 (Friday).
“If the government does not take a decision on its single point demand (job regularization), all MPWs will gherao the residence of the health minister on July 19 and begin a hunger strike at Nepal House gate. They will proceed on indefinite strike across the state from next day,” said Pawan Kumar, state president of the Association.
MPWs have been working on a contractual basis for 15 years and are on an agitation path for job regularization.
A senior official of the state health directorate admitted that MPWs are the backbone of Deoghar-Basukinath (Dumka) Shravani Mela and their absence will definitely impact health services during the month-long religious fair.
