Agartala, Tripura: Tensions escalated in the capital city today as scores of retrenched Community Health Guide (CHG) workers organized a massive “Gana Dharna” (Mass Sit-in) in the area adjacent to the Agartala Circuit House. The protest was fueled by the recent termination of their services, which has left hundreds of frontline health workers and their families in a state of financial crisis.
The protesters, many of whom have served the rural health sector for decades, gathered in large numbers to voice their grievances against the state government’s decision to disengage them.
Key Highlights of the Protest:
- Location: Area surrounding the Circuit House, Agartala.
- The Protesters: Terminated Community Health Guides (CHG), including several elderly women who have served since the inception of the program.
- Primary Demands:
- Immediate Reinstatement: Withdrawal of the termination notices and restoration of their services.
- Job Security: Permanent employment or a long-term contract to ensure a steady livelihood.
- Welfare Support: Financial assistance for those who have crossed the age of 60 and were summarily dismissed.
- Emotional Appeal: Many workers were seen holding placards and emotional slogans. One protester remarked, “We served the state during its most difficult health crises, and now we are being thrown out without any social security.”
The police maintained a heavy presence in the Circuit House area to ensure the protest remained peaceful. While the protesters sought to meet with senior government officials to submit a memorandum of their demands, the administration has yet to provide an official response.
The dharna caused brief traffic disruptions in the heart of the city, highlighting the growing unrest among various categories of retrenched and irregular employees in the state.
