Mohali: Administrative services and healthcare delivery across Mohali took a major hit Thursday as ministerial staff observed a complete strike and govt doctors stayed away from OPD duties in support of their demands, disrupting two key public services simultaneously.The district administrative complex wore a deserted look, with clerical and ministerial employees staying away from work. Routine functioning at the deputy commissioner’s office and other govt departments was severely affected, forcing many visitors to return without getting their work done.“The entire staff is on leave and we are working with the help of personal staff. Applicants visiting administrative office are a harried lot,” said deputy commissioner Komal Mittal.The strike disrupted services involving certificates, official correspondence, file movement and other public-facing work handled by ministerial staff. Several counters remained unattended through the day, leaving residents waiting for assistance.Employees gathered at protest sites and raised slogans in support of their demands, urging the Punjab govt to address long-pending issues. Pensioners also joined the agitation. Beant Singh Puri, a retired cooperative department employee, said pensioners were still awaiting dearness allowance dues despite court orders.The disruption extended to the healthcare sector, where doctors’ protests affected OPD services at govt hospitals and health centres. Patients arriving for consultations and follow-up treatment faced delays and uncertainty, with many forced to seek treatment elsewhere.“I came here for treatment but found that no doctor was attending patients because of the strike. Now I have to return and come back tomorrow,” said Jeevan Singh, a resident of Mullanpur.Officials said essential services were being monitored, but normal functioning remained affected throughout the day as both agitations continued.Why Employees Are ProtestingMinisterial staff are demanding resolution of long-pending service-related issuesPensioners joined the protest over pending dearness allowance arrearsDoctors continued their agitation, affecting routine OPD services at govt hospitalsProtesters urged the Punjab govt to hold talks and resolve the issues at the earliest.
