Sub-divisional hospital in Dharma Nagar sinking into filthy chaos because of strike by unpaid ‘Safai’workers

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 14, 2026

The subdivisional hospital in Dharma Nagar has started sinking into a chaotic condition of filth and rubbish because of a sudden cease-work by eight women ‘Safai’ workers who have not received their salaries for the past four months. Altogether eight ‘Safai’workers had been appointed on casual basis in the year 2014 during the rule of left front government. Even though payment of their limited salaries was more or less regular till 2018, problems have emerged since then with frequent pauses in payment of salaries . “We have not received our salaries for the past four months and , needless to say, this has put us in a serious crisis” said Masuma Begum , one of the ‘Safai’workers. She said that they had made repeated pleas to the subdivisional medical officer as well as the hospital authority regarding non-payment of their salaries but this has not been addressed.

Sources from Dharma Nagar said that yesterday the ‘Safai’workers launched a cease-work programme to press for earliest payment of their salaries but as yet there is no response from the incompetent and callous health administration in the sub-division. This has created a hell-like situation in the hospital and the patients are suffering. Despite best efforts the superintendent of the hospital could not be reached for reaction to the ongoing cease-work programme of the poor women ‘Safai’workers.

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