Hyderabad: Data Entry Operators under NHM demand full payment

Along with members of AITUC, the DEOs on Thursday participated in dharna, demanding release of their full salaries under NHM

Hyderabad: Data Entry Operators (DEOs), who are employed on contract basis under National Health Mission (NHM) and are attached to multiple health initiatives in Telangana State, on Thursday demanded that the State government should release full payment of Rs 22, 750 instead of the present monthly salary of Rs 15, 000.

Along with members of AITUC, the DEOs on Thursday participated in dharna, demanding release of their full salaries under NHM. “We were selected as DEOs after a rigorous selection process that involves multiple interviews and tests. We were supposed to get a monthly salary of Rs 22, 750, as per Government Order 60. However, at present, we are only receiving Rs 15, 000. As a result, we are struggling to support our families,” the protesting Data Entry Operators (DEOs) said.

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General Secretary, AITUC, M Narasimha, who led the protests, pointed out that DEOs spend their entire day at PHCs at remote locations, for data entry.

“They (DEO) spend their entire day carefully entering the patient data in the computer system, which needs a lot of patience and focus. Despite discharging their duties, they are still not getting paid as per GO MS No-60. It is sad that despite hard work and commitment, the data entry operators are not receiving their salaries fully,” he said.

Later, the protesting DEOs and members of AITUC, including Narasimha, met NHM Director, Dr Kannan on Thursday, and submitted a memorandum. “This issue has to be sorted very quickly and data entry operators should be given their full pay,” they demanded.