Mumbai, June 30: The Maharashtra government has granted significant relief to 15,010 contract workers employed under the National Health Mission (NHM) across the state. A government order has been issued to facilitate their service regularization. This applies to employees who have completed ten years or more of service, with the creation of numerous positions at equivalent pay scales and an approval for an annual expenditure of ₹1,153.60 crores.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar, and State Minister Meghna Sakore Bordikar have made special efforts for the regularization of these contract workers, leading to this decision.
The government stated that on March 14, 2024, the cabinet decided on the regularization of contract workers with over ten years of service. This was later amended on November 4, 2025, with the formation of an inter-departmental committee chaired by the Chief Secretary. The government order was issued based on the committee’s recommendations and the decisions made in the cabinet meeting on June 25, 2026.
According to the order, 15,010 contract workers who have completed ten or more years of continuous service, excluding technical breaks, will be appointed to numerous positions at equivalent pay scales as a special case. The equivalence of contract positions will be determined in accordance with the approved regular positions in the Public Health and Rural Development Departments. If necessary, equivalent positions in other departments will also be considered.
The government clarified that while determining the equivalence of positions, factors such as the nature of work, responsibilities, educational qualifications, entry service rules, current pay scales, and applicable pay scales as per the seventh pay commission will be taken into account. Following approval from the Finance Department, the respective departments will create positions and appoint eligible employees.
These workers will receive a minimum basic salary, dearness allowance (DA), and travel allowance (TA) according to the equivalent pay scale. Their current salaries will also be secured.
However, the order specifies that these employees will not be eligible for promotions, assured career progression plans (ACP/ASSP), pensions, or family pensions. Only the existing leave-related rules under the National Health Mission will remain applicable to them.
The government has also clarified that the positions being created will be personal positions. These positions will automatically cease upon the retirement, resignation, or termination of service of the respective employee, and there will be no reappointment to these positions. Additionally, dependents of the employees will not be eligible for compassionate appointments.
To prevent similar regularization issues in the future, the government has stated that appointments under the National Health Mission will primarily be made through outsourcing or service contracts. Decisions related to the creation of new positions will also require approval from the high-level secretary committee of the Finance Department.
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