Jharkhand Health Department Directs NHM Staff, Sahiyas’ Pending Payments Before Diwali

Ranchi, October 26: Jharkhand’s Health Department has directed officials to clear pending salaries and honorariums of National Health Mission (NHM) contractual employees, outsourced staff and Sahiyas before Diwali. Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh also instructed all districts to update pending information related to the TB-Free India Campaign within 24 hours, warning of strict action against officials responsible for delays.

The directions were issued during a video conference review meeting attended by civil surgeons from all districts, NHM officials and officers associated with the TB-Free India Campaign. Senior health officials, including NHM Campaign Director Shashi Prakash Jha, Director-in-Chief of Health Services Dr Siddharth Sanyal and Director of Health Services Dr Prabhat Kumar, also participated.

During the meeting, Singh expressed concern over the unsatisfactory performance of some districts under the TB-Free India Campaign. He directed the concerned officials to improve performance indicators, update campaign data within 24 hours and review the functioning of district-level committees, nodal officers and campaign teams.

The Additional Chief Secretary also stressed that eligible tuberculosis patients must receive financial assistance under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana without delay. He instructed officials to transfer all pending payments directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts and ensure that no eligible patient is deprived of the scheme’s benefits.

Pending Payments to Be Cleared Before Diwali

Singh directed districts to settle pending salaries and honorariums up to September 30 for NHM contractual employees, outsourced personnel and Sahiyas before Diwali. He also ordered the completion of expenditure-related and payment procedures under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme for the April–October 2026 period.

Warning against negligence, he said strict action would be taken against district and block accounts managers, as well as other officials and personnel found responsible for payment-related lapses.

The meeting was also informed that NHM personnel working at the Health Department headquarters would receive their October salaries in November through the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) portal. Preparations would also be made to process November salaries in December. The payment process will prioritise NHM contractual employees, followed by outsourced personnel. December salaries for NHM contractual staff across districts will also be processed through HRIS. The department is additionally planning to route payments to Sahiyas through the headquarters.

Ambulance Services and Hospital Maintenance Reviewed

The Additional Chief Secretary reviewed pending payments related to the Mamta Vahan service and assessed the functioning of the 108 ambulance service.

He directed officials to identify ambulances that are non-operational, more than seven years old and have covered over 1.5 lakh kilometres. Such vehicles must be declared unfit, auctioned according to the rules and removed from hospital premises. Other unserviceable ambulances must also be auctioned through the prescribed procedure.

Singh further instructed all health institutions, from district hospitals to primary health centres, to complete painting and essential repair work before Diwali. Officials were also asked to clear overgrown bushes, improve sanitation and maintain hospital buildings and surrounding areas.

Concluding the review, Singh emphasised that negligence in implementing the TB-Free India Campaign, providing financial assistance to patients, clearing health workers’ dues and maintaining hospital premises would not be tolerated. He directed officials to comply with all instructions within the specified deadlines.