Patna: Health principal secretary R.K. Mahajan on Saturday said that many of the contract employees who were on strike have resumed work and warned of action against those who don't do so by Monday.

Those leading the strike, however, claimed that many of them were still on strike.

"We have received information from various districts that many contract health employees resumed work today," Mahajan said. "As tomorrow is a Sunday, we are expecting the rest to join the day after tomorrow. Action will be taken against those who do not join by Monday."

Rajesh Kumar, chairperson of the Bihar Rajya Anubandhit Para Medical Karmi Sangh, however, said that around 90 per cent of employees had not resumed work. "Only a small section joined work on Saturday. Most of them are still on strike," he said.

Mahajan has issued a circular to civil surgeons and authorities concerned to initiate action against the striking employees. At a press conference on Thursday, Mahajan had said the department would recruit new paramedics in place of those on strike and said necessary proceedings would be initiated on Saturday.

Health minister Mangal Pandey said his department will take action against contract health employees (under National Health Mission and those recruited by Bihar Staff Selection Commission) who do not rejoin work. The employees are on strike since Monday for regularisation of service and equal pay for equal work.

On Friday they even threatened extreme measures like self-immolation if the health department continues to ignore their demands.

The health department had earlier rejected the regularisation call, terming it illogical. The department said service terms and conditions of contract health employees working under NHM were the same throughout the country and all employees were hired on contract.

So, there was no point regularising their service. On the other hand, the department is ready to give additional incentive to contract health workers in addition to pay.