SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA) has extended its ongoing strike by another 72 hours from September 18, as employees continue to press for pay parity, job security, regularisation and social security benefits.
The association said the decision was taken as its long-pending demands remained unresolved and there was no concrete, time-bound mechanism from the authorities to address the issues.
The strike, which began across Jammu and Kashmir on September 9 and has been extended several times, has seen employees hold protests at district, block and institutional levels.
The employees are seeking a comprehensive employment policy, revision of remuneration on a par with NHM workers in other states, job security and regularisation, besides benefits such as EPF, ESI, insurance coverage and post-retirement support.
The association said the latest extension followed years of representations, meetings and discussions over the service conditions of NHM employees.
“We have been working in the health sector for years and have continued our duties during difficult situations. Despite this, there is still no clear policy regarding our future. We want the government to frame a proper mechanism that recognises our service and provides us with employment security,” an NHM employee said.
Another employee said the concerns went beyond salaries and included disparities in service benefits and long-term security.
“Our responsibilities are almost the same, but there is a disparity in remuneration and benefits. We are only seeking a fair and dignified wage structure,” he said.
A woman employee said uncertainty over their employment had become a major concern for those who had spent several years working under the mission.
“Many of us have devoted a major part of our working lives to NHM services. We have families and financial responsibilities, but there is still no certainty about our future,” she said.
Another employee said social security measures were equally important.
“EPF, ESI and insurance are basic forms of social protection. These issues need a concrete response rather than repeated assurances,” the employee said.
The protesting employees said they were aware of the impact of the prolonged agitation on healthcare services but maintained that their demands had remained pending for years.
“We understand that healthcare is an essential service. But our demands have also remained unresolved for years. We are ready to sit across the table with the government and discuss every issue if there is a clear and time-bound roadmap,” another employee said.
The prolonged absence of NHM personnel has affected several programmes and services supported by the mission and placed additional pressure on regular staff at some health institutions. The Health Department has also directed institutions to ensure adequate regular manpower in critical and patient-care areas.
Meanwhile, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo has appealed to the protesting employees to call off the strike and resume their duties, saying the government would examine their concerns and make efforts to resolve issues within its jurisdiction.
Speaking to reporters in Pampore on Thursday, Itoo said the government had held several rounds of discussions with the employees and that she had also interacted with them earlier.
“They are our own people, and it is their democratic right to raise their concerns. The government has held several discussions with them, and I have also spoken to them,” she said.
The minister expressed hope that the employees would understand the situation and return to work, stressing that people place considerable trust in healthcare workers.
“I hope they will call off their strike and return to their duties. The government will certainly do whatever it can for them,” she said.
The association, however, maintained that it was ready for dialogue and constructive engagement but wanted a clear and time-bound roadmap for resolving its long-pending demands. (KNO)
