SRINAGAR: Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday warned that the Jammu and Kashmir Government could be forced to take action if National Health Mission (NHM) workers continued their protest, while urging the employees to return to duty.
Itoo said the government did not want to take such a step, but the continued absence of NHM workers was affecting patient care as they formed an important part of the health system.
“If we go to protest like this, I don’t think it will be right. Sometimes, the government is forced to take a step that we do not want to take,” she said while speaking to reporters.
The minister said the government had already started examining the grievances of NHM workers and had taken up matters requiring intervention from the Centre with the Union Government.
She said she had met the employees before their protest and attempted to persuade them to call it off, adding that proposals concerning issues outside the jurisdiction of the J&K Government had already been sent to the Government of India.
Itoo said low remuneration was among the issues she had raised with the Union Health Minister during her recent visit to Delhi.
“I told him that their pay is very low. It is very expensive these days. He has accepted it,” she said, adding that she would send another reminder to the Centre seeking its intervention.
The minister said the JK Government was also examining the workers’ demands concerning leave salary and pension benefits.
While acknowledging the grievances raised by the employees, Itoo said their continued absence from work was causing difficulties for patients and urged them to resume their duties.
“They are our own people. They are our own children. They are our own brothers and sisters,” she said.
Itoo also questioned the BJP’s role in addressing the NHM workers’ demands, pointing out that the party had been in power at the Centre since 2019.
“I also want to ask those people who go and sit in their protests. Tell me, whose government is here after 2019? The BJP is running the government,” she said.
“What has the BJP done for the workers since 2019? I want to ask them,” she added, saying matters requiring funds or decisions from Delhi needed to be addressed by the Centre.
She reiterated her appeal to NHM workers to call off the strike, saying the government was examining their demands and would extend assistance in matters falling within its authority.
