Punjab health minister presents proposal to central government to increase pay of contractual NRHM employees

Chandigarh, July 30, 2014: The Punjab Government has presented a proposal to the central government to increase pay of contractual employees working under National Rural Health Mission in the state. The Punjab Government is ready to bear the extra financial burden of its share under this project. The Punjab Health Minister Surjeet Kumar Jayani toady met Union Health Minister Harshvardhan in this regard and presented a detailed proposal to increase pay of contractual employees of NRHM.
During the meeting Jayani briefed the Union Health Minister about the low salaries of contractual employees of NHRM. He said that there is a big gap in the pay of regular and contractual employees therefore Punjab Government is sincerely working out to increase salary of contractual employees of NRHM and even given its accent to the centre that Punjab Government is ready to bear the extra financial burden of its share of increased pay of NRHM employees.  
Jayani appealed to the Union Health Minister to take up this matter urgently with the department to take a positive decision on the issue and release additional funds for this cause. He said that Union Minister has assured him that he would discuss the matter with the senior officials and come up with positive results.
Jayani also briefed the Union Health Minister about the ongoing campaign to curb drugs in the state. He said that positive results are coming out of this campaign and state government would completely curb drug addiction in the state within next 2 years.
Health Minister Jayani said that Punjab Government is setting up rehabilitation centre in all 22 districts for the treated drug addicts. He said that till date 3.68 lac persons have visited for checkup in OPD’s and 1.62 lac have visited Drug De-Addiction Camps. He said that 16 thousand drug addicts have been treated in the state. Jayani said that Union Health Minister has also assured him full support from the centre to curb drugs in Punjab.