SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 11: Protests by casual and daily-wage workers and National Health Mission (NHM) employees continued across Jammu & Kashmir on Friday, with the two groups pressing the government to address their long-pending service-related demands, including regularisation, job security, pay revision and retirement benefits.
The Jammu & Kashmir Casual/Daily Wagers Forum (JKCDF) held a peaceful protest at Sher-i-Kashmir Park in Srinagar, demanding action on the long-pending issue of regularisation of services.
The protest was led by JKCDF president Sajad Ahmed Parray, who said the workers were seeking resolution of their grievances through peaceful and democratic means.
Speaking to reporters, Parray urged the government to intervene and address their demands, while warning that continued inaction could lead the forum to consider stronger measures.
“We want to once again remind the government that this is a peaceful protest. We want to tell the government not to force us to take the call of stopping the water supply,” he said.
He said the workers were responsible for providing essential services to the public and did not want ordinary people to suffer because of their grievances.
“We are employees and our work is to serve the people. We appeal to the government not to force us to give a call for stopping the water supply. The day that happens, not even a single drop of water will flow here,” Parray said.
He said the forum had repeatedly raised the concerns of casual and daily-wage workers and was seeking concrete action on their long-pending demands.
“We do not want the public to suffer, but the government should also understand the difficulties being faced by the workers,” he said, urging the authorities to initiate dialogue and take steps towards resolving the grievances.
The forum said regularisation remains its principal demand and has been seeking action on the committee constituted to examine the issue.
According to the forum, around 61,000 casual and daily-wage workers are awaiting a clear roadmap on regularisation, with many having worked for years without permanent employment status.
NHM employees extend strike
Meanwhile, the agitation by National Health Mission employees entered its third consecutive day on Friday, with the Jammu & Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA) deciding to extend its ongoing 72-hour strike by another 72 hours from September 12.
The association said the decision followed the government’s failure to take concrete and time-bound action on its long-pending demands despite repeated representations, meetings and assurances.
NHM employees associated with various programmes and health services continued their peaceful protests at district, block and field-level establishments across Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesting workforce includes employees working under programmes such as the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
The employees are seeking revision and enhancement of salaries, a comprehensive policy for job security, retirement and social-security benefits, and resolution of other service-related issues through a transparent and time-bound mechanism.
They are also seeking a workable retirement benefit or “Golden Handshake” policy for employees completing their service.
The association said thousands of NHM employees have served the public healthcare system under contractual arrangements for nearly 18 years, often performing responsibilities comparable to those of regular employees but without a clear long-term framework governing their service conditions.
Protesting employees said the prolonged contractual nature of their employment had created uncertainty for workers and their families.
“We have served the health sector for years and have performed our duties in hospitals, health centres and at the field level. Our demand is not only about salary enhancement; we want a clear policy that gives us job security, social protection and dignity after years of service,” one employee said.
The association maintained that NHM workers remain an important component of healthcare delivery in Jammu & Kashmir, particularly during public-health emergencies, disease-control programmes and other situations requiring sustained manpower.
The UT-Level Coordination Committee said the latest agitation followed the expiry of an ultimatum issued to the government after its September 5 meeting.
It said the strike extension was decided after repeated representations and dialogue failed to produce a concrete roadmap.
The employees have urged the government to convene a high-level meeting with their representatives and initiate a time-bound process to resolve their demands.
“We do not want confrontation. We want the government to sit with us and address the issues through a definite policy decision. If a genuine and time-bound process is initiated, we are ready for dialogue,” another protesting employee said.
The Committee said the extended strike would commence from September 12 and reiterated that the agitation was aimed at seeking justice, dignity, job security and a sustainable future for NHM employees.
Both groups have urged the government to move beyond assurances and initiate concrete policy measures to address their respective grievances.
With KNO inputs