Former Mohalla Clinic Staff in East Delhi Await Unpaid Salaries Amid AAM Transition
Former healthcare personnel from Delhi's phased-out Mohalla Clinics, including staff from facilities near Mandawali metro station and across the east district, are awaiting unpaid salary dues following the city's transition to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. While numerous employees were absorbed into the new primary healthcare centres, several unabsorbed workers have reported that their final payments remain pending.
The Delhi government began setting up Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in May 2025 to replace the network of 553 Mohalla Clinics. Authorities have established 415 AAMs so far and plan to open 1,100 centres in total. The new centres were designed to offer expanded services, including maternal and child healthcare, routine immunisation, screening for non-communicable diseases, and nearly 80 types of free diagnostic tests.
However, several former clinic workers who were not retained are struggling with unpaid arrears. Dr. Amit Gupta, who worked at a Mohalla Clinic near Mandawali metro station and now runs a private clinic, said he is owed ₹78,000 for January and February. After emailing an east district health official about the unpaid wages, Dr. Gupta received an official response on August 27 stating that the file had been forwarded to the relevant department and that the budget approval remained under consideration.
A senior Health Department official stated that many former workers were retained by the AAM network and had received their salaries up to date, adding that officials would look into any instances of negligence. Two workers absorbed by AAMs confirmed they have received regular pay, indicating the delays primarily affect former personnel who were not hired.
Each Mohalla Clinic previously employed four workers: a doctor, a pharmacist, a multi-task worker, and a lab technician. A former multi-task worker from an east district clinic explained that supervisors told staff funds had not been released for their final salaries, leaving him unemployed since the clinic closed in March while he waits for AAM vacancies to open.
Another former doctor reported that unpaid dues also include cleaning allowances and reimbursement for medicine transport costs during their final working month. The doctor added that an age limit of 55 disqualified her from applying for roles at the new centres. Following earlier demonstrations outside the Delhi Secretariat demanding retention, several former clinic employees have approached the Delhi High Court, which is scheduled to hear the matter on September 8.
