Chandigarh :
As the strike by multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) on Friday entered the 12th day, the government started getting tough with the striking staff with 382 employees being booked under the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

According to sources, 225 employees were booked in Narnaul, 90 in Rewari, 33 in Panipat, 14 in Kaithal, nine in Yamunanagar, seven in Ambala, three in Yamunanagar and one in Hisar.

Ompati Kadian, president of the MPHW Union, alleged that the police and the authorities concerned were resorting to highhandedness to force striking employees to join duty. “Despite repression by the authorities and police, the strike will continue till our demands are met,” he said.

 Sarv Karamchari Sangh general secretary Subhash Lamba alleged that though the Health Minister had been claiming that most demands were accepted, no notification was issued.

The MPHWs had been on strike since August 27, demanding declaration of posts as technical, hike in pay, regularisation of services of contractual women MPHWs after two years, equal pay for equal work and uniform allowance.