As the ‘oldest son’ of his family, Bikash was forced to give up his dreams of joining the Indian Army when his father was rendered immobile after an accidental fall at a construction site. Bikash works odd jobs as a construction labourer and mason and dedicates his free time at Cooch Behar Anasrishti, a local youth organization working on conservation,…

Bikash Barman

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On one hand, health workers are being praised all over the country for their role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. While on the other hand, health workers from many districts of West Bengal have gone on hunger strike.

As such, health workers of West Bengal's Coochbehar district have been on a hunger strike for the last 9 years as their salaries have not been increased. Health workers have been on hunger strike for 10 days, demanding that their jobs be made permanent. They have been working for 11 years but have not been able to make their job permanent or increase their salary.

Video Volunteers community correspondent Bikash Barman reports that the hunger strike is active not only in Coochbehar but other districts of West Bengal like Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and Jhargram.