Protesters seek pay parity, job security, social security benefits
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 14: National Health Mission (NHM) employees across Jammu and Kashmir continued their strike for the sixth consecutive day on Monday and announced a further 72-hour extension of the agitation from September 15.
The Jammu & Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA), in a formal communication to the authorities said the extension had been necessitated by the continued pendency of their long-standing demands and the absence of any concrete, time-bound resolution.
Pertinently, the employees are demanding pay parity with NHM workers in other states, a comprehensive policy for job security and regularisation, besides social security benefits including EPF, ESI, insurance coverage and post-retirement support.
The continued strike has affected functioning of various NHM-supported health services, while the absence of employees has also placed additional pressure on the regular healthcare workforce at several health institutions.
“We have been serving the health system for years, but our service conditions and future remain uncertain. We need a concrete policy and a time-bound resolution rather than repeated assurances,” a protesting employee said.
Another employee said their demands were aimed at securing basic employment and social protection. “We are not against patient care and have kept our protest peaceful. But our genuine concerns also need to be addressed. We want the government to come forward with a clear roadmap,” the employee said.
A female employee said NHM workers had continued to serve despite prolonged uncertainty.
“We are ready for dialogue, but there has to be a concrete response from the government. Thousands of employees are waiting for clarity regarding their future,” she said.
The association expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the government and urged the authorities to initiate meaningful and time-bound measures to resolve the grievances.
With the strike now extended by another 72 hours from September 15, employees have urged the government to intervene at the earliest and take concrete steps towards addressing their demands and restoring normal functioning of NHM-linked health services across Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)
