Former COVID healthcare assistants stage protest in Jaipur, demand reinstatement

Jaipur, Jul 9 (PTI) Former COVID healthcare assistants (CHA) recruited during the coronavirus pandemic staged a protest here on Thursday to demand reinstatement. The protesters said around 28,000 contractual COVID health workers, engaged during the Congress government to meet pandemic-related healthcare requirements, were later removed from service in 2022. They accused the BJP government of failing to fulfil its poll promise despite being in power for over two-and-a-half years. Rajasthan Akhil COVID Swasth Sangh president Veer Singh demanded that the government should fulfil its promise and restore the services of the dismissed contractual employees. "The protest was held to remind the government of its commitment," he said. Ravi Prakash, a former CHA, alleged that while in the opposition, the BJP had promised to reinstate them after coming to power and had also included the assurance in its election manifesto. The CHA workers were appointed during the coronavirus pandemic to assist healthcare staff. The state government terminated their services on March 31, 2022. PTI SDA APL APL