Pay dispute sparks strike at North Tripura's Dharmanagar District Hospital

Health services at the Dharmanagar District Hospital in North Tripura faced disruption on Tuesday as sanitation workers launched a strike over unpaid wages.

The workers allege that the private agency responsible for their employment has failed to clear salaries for the past four months, leaving them in severe financial distress. Tensions flared in the hospital premises as the aggrieved staff staged a protest demanding immediate payment.

According to the workers, this is not the first time they have faced such a crisis. Earlier, they had resorted to a similar strike when salaries were withheld, forcing the company to settle dues under pressure. However, with the problem recurring, they say they had no choice but to stop work again.

The employees further claimed that while the government-fixed monthly wage is supposed to be Rs 9,000 or more, only Rs 6,000 is being deposited into their accounts. This discrepancy, coupled with months of arrears, has pushed many into financial hardship.

Speaking to reporters, the sanitation staff said they continue working at the hospital out of sheer necessity to support their families, but warned that the strike will continue until their demands are met. They have called for immediate clearance of pending wages and strict enforcement of the promised pay scale.

The protest has raised concerns over possible disruption of hospital services, with patients and attendants fearing that the strike could affect hygiene and overall healthcare delivery.