Tanveer Hussain
Budgam, September 18: The protest by employees of the National Health Mission (NHM), being held under the banner of the All J&K NHM Employees Association, District Budgam, entered its tenth consecutive day on Friday, with protesting employees reiterating their long-pending demands, including a comprehensive job policy, equal pay for equal work, salary revision, retirement benefits and social security.
The protesting employees said they have been serving the healthcare system for several years and have approached the government and concerned authorities on multiple occasions for resolution of their service-related issues. They appealed to the government to initiate meaningful talks with their representatives and take concrete steps towards resolving their demands.
The employees said NHM personnel have been providing services in the health sector since the inception of the scheme, but several of their service-related issues remain unresolved despite the passage of years.
On the issue of salary disparity, the employees said they perform duties and responsibilities of a similar nature as regular employees of the Health Department but continue to receive significantly lower remuneration.
One of the protesting employees said, “Our demand is equal pay for equal work. We perform similar responsibilities, carry almost the same workload and serve the same healthcare system.”
The employees also referred to assurances given in the past regarding the phased regularisation of NHM workers, saying that they now require a clear and workable roadmap rather than further assurances.
One employee said, “There is a significant difference between making a statement and implementing it. If the government provides us with a concrete agenda and a written assurance, we are ready to return to our respective blocks and districts and resume serving the public.”
Doctors, paramedical staff, management personnel and employees associated with other sections of NHM are also participating in the ongoing protest.
NHM Employees Await Positive Government Response.Speaking to the media, Dr Manmeet Singh said that despite the protest continuing for the past ten days, the protesting employees had so far not received any positive response from the government.
Dr Manmeet Singh said, “We hope that the government will resolve at least some of our demands in our favour. A delegation from our side has also gone to meet the government, and we hope that some positive development will emerge.”
He expressed hope that the government would take the concerns and demands of the employees seriously and initiate effective measures at the earliest to resolve their issues.
Doctors Express Concern Over Impact on Patients
Another doctor, Javed Ahmad, expressed concern over the difficulties being faced by patients as employees remain away from their duties during the ongoing protest.
Javed Ahmad said, “We have been sitting here for the last ten days, and we do not feel good about remaining away from our duties. Consultants are also among those participating here, including a gynaecology consultant from Block Beerwah who performs surgeries and looks after patients. He too has been sitting here for the last ten days.”
He further said that the protesting employees were well aware of the difficulties being faced by people in their respective areas.
“We know how much difficulty people in our areas are facing. We do not want the public to suffer, and we want to return to the people as soon as possible and resume our duties. We are hopeful that the government will listen to our demands and take appropriate steps to resolve the issue,” he said.
The protesting employees appealed to the government to initiate talks with their representatives at the earliest and resolve their long-pending service-related issues through meaningful dialogue.
The employees said they would consider ending the protest once the government provides concrete and written assurances regarding their demands or takes practical decisions towards addressing the issues.
