BREAKING: Haryana invokes ESMA, bans strike by healthcare workers for six months amid COVID-19 surge

Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij said, “the ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) has been implemented in Haryana.” “Now health workers will not be able to go on strike for 6 months. This step has been taken after a group of doctors went on strike to obstruct the prevention of corona," Vij said.

NEW DELHI: Amid a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases, the Haryana government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA)), banning any strike by healthcare workers for next six months. 

The decision was taken in the wake of doctors’ statewide protest, demanding the creation of a special cadre for specialist doctors in the state, restoration of 40% reservation policy and stopping direct recruitment to the posts of senior medical officers.

The announcement to this effect was made by Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij who said, “the ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) has been implemented in Haryana.”

“Now health workers will not be able to go on strike for 6 months. This step has been taken after a group of doctors went on strike to obstruct the prevention of corona," Vij said. 

हरियाणा में एस्मा लागू कर दिया गया है, अब 6 महीने तक हड़ताल नहीं कर सकेंगे स्वास्थ्य कर्मी । यह कदम करोना की रोकथाम में बाधा डालने के लिए डॉक्टरों के एक समूह द्वारा हड़ताल पर चले जाने के कारण उठाया गया है । — ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 11, 2022

The Haryana government had on Monday banned large congregations such as rallies and protests, and extended existing restrictions including the closure of cinema halls and sports complexes to eight more districts. 

"Large congregations like all kinds of public meetings, rallies, protests, dharnas etc shall be prohibited in the state," said the order issued by the Haryana State Disaster Management Authority (HSDMA.

The eight new districts where the restrictions will be applicable are Sirsa, Rewari, Jind, Fatehabad, Mahendergarh, Kaithal, Bhiwani and Hisar. Earlier, these restrictions were imposed in Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Rohtak Jhajjar, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ambala, Panchkula and Sonipat.