Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 10: The 72-hour strike by National Health Mission (NHM) employees continued across Jammu and Kashmir for the second consecutive day on Thursday, with employees staging protests at district, block and field-level health establishments over their long-pending demands, including pay parity, job security and social protection.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the strike, called by the UT-level Joint Coordination Committee of NHM employees, has brought together workers associated with various NHM programmes, including the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), across both Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Reports from different parts of the Union Territory indicated participation of employees at multiple health institutions and administrative units.
The employees are seeking revision of their remuneration on the lines of NHM workers in other states, besides a comprehensive policy for job security and protection of their long-term service interests.
They are also demanding implementation of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), insurance coverage and post-retirement financial support, maintaining that years of service under NHM have not been accompanied by adequate employment and social security benefits.
A protesting employee said NHM workers have continued to shoulder a significant part of the public healthcare system, particularly during emergencies and health campaigns, but remain uncertain about their future.
“We have remained on the frontline of healthcare delivery for years, but our wages, employment status and future security continue to remain uncertain. We want a policy-based solution rather than repeated assurances,” the employee said.
Another employee said the agitation was not merely about seeking an increase in salary but about securing basic service and social-security rights.
“Many of us have given years of our lives to the Health Department. We are demanding a fair remuneration structure, job security and benefits that can provide some financial protection to our families,” the employee said.
The Joint Coordination Committee has announced the 72-hour strike after its September 5 meeting, following the expiry of an ultimatum to the government without what the employees termed a concrete or satisfactory response.
The employees maintained that the present agitation was preceded by repeated representations, meetings and assurances, but said these efforts had failed to result in a comprehensive policy addressing their concerns.
NHM employees had also held a 48-hour strike earlier this year over similar demands.
The latest agitation, they said, was undertaken only after other avenues of dialogue failed to produce a concrete resolution.
The employees have appealed to the administration to initiate meaningful negotiations and resolve their demands through a time-bound mechanism.
“We do not want confrontation with the government. We want a written and sustainable solution to the issues that have remained pending for years. If our concerns are addressed seriously, there will be no reason to continue the agitation,” another protesting employee said—(KNO)
