PGIMER's Contract Staff Denied Medical Benefits

Approximately 3,500 contractual workers at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) continue to labor under hazardous conditions, denied essential medical benefits. These workers, performing roles such as hospital attendants, security guards, and sanitation staff, are exposed to infectious diseases in high-risk zones like isolation wards and operation theatres. Their situation has worsened over the past three to four years, particularly after their salaries surpassed the ₹21,000 threshold, disqualifying them from Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) coverage.

Key exemptions granted to PGIMER by the Union ministry of labour and employment, last extended in July 2025, stipulated parity in working conditions and facilities compared to regular employees. However, the institute's failure to provide free medical treatment to its contractual workforce, in contrast to its regular staff, has left these front-line employees vulnerable. The recent death of a 49-year-old security guard, Harjasvinder Singh, who passed away after a stroke during duty, underscored the crisis as his family bore significant medical expenses.

In response to these unmet demands, contractual workers have organized a 24-hour chain hunger strike since November 2025, advocating for medical benefits for themselves and their families. Testimonies from workers highlight daily perils, such as accidental exposure to infectious materials and the physical strain of their duties, with no recourse for accidents or illness. PGIMER officials have not responded to requests for comment on the matter.