SRINAGAR: Employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Jammu and Kashmir began a 72-hour strike on Wednesday over demands including a secure job policy, pay revision, retirement benefits and social security, the Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA) said.
The strike, organised by the association’s UT-level coordination committee, is being observed by NHM employees at district headquarters across the Union Territory, according to the association.
Abdul Rauoof, chief spokesperson of JKNHMEA, said the protest was aimed at drawing the Government’s attention to what the association described as long-pending issues concerning the service conditions and future of NHM employees.
Rauoof said NHM personnel form an important part of the healthcare delivery system and have been working in hospitals, health centres and various health programmes across Jammu and Kashmir.
The association has listed four principal demands: a secure job policy for NHM employees, revision of salaries and pay, retirement benefits for long-serving employees, and social security benefits for workers and their families.
Rauoof said the demands had been raised repeatedly before the authorities and called for a meaningful and time-bound resolution.
“NHM employees have rendered years of dedicated service to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Their demands concerning job security, salary revision, retirement benefits and social security are genuine and deserve serious consideration,” he said.
The association urged its members to remain peaceful and disciplined during the 72-hour programme and appealed to the Government to initiate dialogue to resolve the issues.
The strike is scheduled to continue from September 9, according to the JKNHMEA.
