JAMMU: National Health Mission (NHM) employees across Jammu Division on Monday observed the seventh day of their ongoing strike-cum-protest under the banner of the UT Level Coordination Committee of NHM Employees J&K, with employees from various NHM programmes and categories continuing their participation.
Protests were held at district and block headquarters across Jammu Division under the leadership of Provincial President, JKNHMEA Jammu Division, Dr Vikas Sharma. Doctors, paramedical and management staff, besides employees associated with NTEP and other NHM schemes, participated in the demonstrations.
On the seventh day of the agitation, the employees reiterated their long-pending demands, including a comprehensive job policy, job security, golden handshake, retirement and social security benefits, EPF coverage for all eligible categories, loyalty benefits for left-out NHM employees and other service-related issues.
The employees said their continued participation despite the prolonged agitation reflected their unity and determination to secure a dignified and equitable future after years of service to Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare system.
Chief Spokesperson, All JKNHMEA Jammu Division, Dr Hamid Parray, said the sustained participation reflected the growing sense of insecurity and frustration among NHM employees. He said the employees had served for years, including in difficult and far-flung areas, and were now seeking a secure and dignified future.
“We want dialogue, not confrontation. We want a solution, not assurances. The Government must come forward with concrete measures on job security, social security and the other long-pending issues of NHM employees,” Parray said.
He appealed to employees to maintain unity, discipline and peaceful conduct throughout the agitation, saying the strength of the movement lay in collective resolve.
The Association maintained that the agitation was not against the healthcare system or the public but was aimed at drawing the Government’s attention to the employees’ long-pending grievances. It appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sakeena Itoo to take a positive and compassionate view of their demands and initiate meaningful steps towards resolving them.
The Association reiterated its readiness for dialogue and expressed hope that the Government would address the issues through constructive and democratic means.
Meanwhile, the continuing strike has affected the functioning of various healthcare services, particularly in rural, remote and far-flung areas where NHM employees constitute a significant component of the healthcare workforce.
