Approximately 4,000 community health volunteers (CHVs) with BMC`s health department are on strike, resulting in a disruption of essential services. A few hundred of them held a protest at Azad Maidan on Tuesday.

CHVs are instrumental in BMC`s door-to-door services, distributing prophylactics to prevent monsoon illnesses. Some of their demands include a provident fund and pension as directed by the high court. They also demand an increase in monthly wages from Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000. “There have been instances where retired CHVs have resorted to begging,” said Bridula Patil, general secretary of the Municipal Corporation Health Workers Union.