Health staff at Central government hospitals in Delhi called off their over a week-long indefinite strike on Saturday, after the Delhi government assured to investigate their demands.

A top representative said, “The striking Group C and D employees unconditionally withdrew their agitation and decided to resume their duties from tomorrow.”

He also said that the Delhi Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has decided to pull out punitive actions taken against staff during the strike period and also guaranteed them of mulling over their demands and sending their proposals to the Centre.

Moreover, the administration has also decided for now not to take out the patient care allowance as suggested by the Sixth Pay Commission and to maintain equality between the technical as well as nursing staff.

The state is also planning to discover the option of revising the uniform allowance and filling up the empty posts.

A statement from the CM office stated, “Parity between technical and nursing staff would be maintained and their grievances with proposals of the Sixth Pay Commission would be referred to anomalies committee. The Cabinet has also assured them of taking up the issue of revision of the uniform allowance. It needs to be revised. It has also been decided to take immediate steps to fill vacant posts as this matter comes under jurisdiction of the city government.”

In the meantime, the government took a tough stand against the striking staff.

While giving a strict warning to striking staff in Delhi, Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss said if temporary contract workers and probationers do not go back to work by Monday, they will have to confront the axe.

A group of Central Government's health employees went on the indefinite strike since February 23, raising various demands including pay parity between nursing and technical staff and revision of different allowances.