Government functioning across Punjab was severely disrupted on Thursday as over 3 lakh employees and about 3.5 lakh pensioners participated in a statewide protest called by more than 150 employee organisations under the banner of the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch. The action, aimed at pressing demands including the release of pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears and implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), resulted in thin attendance at offices and suspension of outpatient department (OPD) services at several government hospitals.
Health services hit; emergency care maintained
Public healthcare services were among the worst affected. Several district hospitals and community health centres either suspended routine OPD services or operated with skeletal staff. In Hoshiarpur, the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association supported the strike by boycotting OPD services at the Civil Hospital and community health centres, and said elective surgeries had been postponed. The association's district president Dr Kultar Singh and general secretary Dr Muneesh Kumar clarified that emergency services, maternity and child care, emergency surgeries, treatment of admitted patients, medico-legal work and postmortems continued.
In Amritsar, doctors at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital demonstrated and protesters said OPD services there had been suspended though emergency services remained functional. Government 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' in Ferozepur were also reported shut for the day.
Administrative and educational impact
Government offices across the state had thin attendance as many staff availed mass casual leave. Departments affected included district and sub-divisional offices, education, irrigation and public works. Government schools in Hoshiarpur district remained closed after teachers and clerical staff participated in mass casual leave, while Government College, Hoshiarpur recorded thin student attendance as regular teaching and clerical staff were absent. Ad hoc employees, the reports said, continued to attend duty.
Union stance and participation
The protest was led by a coalition of employee organisations that said the strike was in response to long-pending dues and pension-related demands. Organisers reported the participation figures and staged demonstrations at district headquarters and other locations across the state, raising slogans against the Bhagwant Mann-led government.
"Talks will be possible only after the strike is withdrawn,"
said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, according to the reporting. The statement signalled the government's position that formal negotiations require the withdrawal of the agitation before discussions can proceed.
What services continued
Authorities and medical associations emphasised that critical and life-saving services were not interrupted. The strike organisers and medical bodies both indicated that emergency procedures, inpatient care and essential medico-legal responsibilities were being maintained at health facilities despite the suspension of routine outpatient consultations and elective surgeries in some centres.
- Services suspended: Routine OPDs at several government hospitals and community health centres; elective surgeries in some districts; Aam Aadmi Clinics in reported areas.
- Services maintained: Emergency care, maternity services, treatment of admitted patients, medico-legal work and postmortems.
- Administrative effects: Thin attendance in many government offices due to mass casual leave; disruption of regular work at district, tehsil and education offices.
District-level snapshot
| District | Reported impact |
|---|---|
| Hoshiarpur | OPD boycott at Civil Hospital and CHCs; elective surgeries postponed; schools remained closed |
| Amritsar | OPD services suspended at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital; emergency services operational |
| Ferozepur | Government 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' shut for the day |
The strike represents a large-scale mobilisation that touches services used daily by citizens: healthcare, education and routine government transactions at district and tehsil offices. Employee organisations argue their numbers and coordinated action demonstrate the depth of dissatisfaction over pay and pension arrangements; the state government has so far conditioned talks on a withdrawal of the strike.
As the situation develops, citizens are advised to verify the status of scheduled outpatient appointments, elective procedures and school openings directly with local hospitals and educational institutions. Government statements and union communiqués will determine whether talks are rescheduled and when normal services will resume.
Reporting from districts across Punjab indicates the strike was widespread in reach and impact; further updates are expected as both government and employee bodies respond to the day's events.
