Srinagar, Dec 14 (KNO): Thousands of Health and Family Welfare employees in Jammu and Kashmir have been without salaries for the last six months, leaving them in financial distress.
The employees, including Deputy Chief Medical Officers, educators and Female Multipurpose Health Workers (FMPHWs) said they have been facing this issue repeatedly.
Official sources informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that thousands of employees working in health centres across J&K under a centrally-sponsored scheme have consistently experienced delays in salary payments.
They added that employees working under the 2210 budget head do not face such problems and receive their salaries on time. However, those under the 2211 head often experience salary delays.
Despite being permanent employees of the Union Territory (UT), the workers said they are forced to protest for their salaries.
Employees of Health and Family Welfare in J&K said the education of their children is being disrupted as they cannot pay school fees on time. They said despite their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now forced to beg for salaries.
"Neither DPCs (Departmental Promotion Committees) are being considered in a stipulated timeframe, nor are salaries being released on time," they said. "Some of our employees are suffering from chronic diseases, and their treatment is being delayed due to the lack of salaries."
Masarat Jabeen, vice-president of the employees' association, said health and family welfare workers have faced delays in salaries and promotions for years. She said the government's claims of women empowerment and programs like 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' are proving to be hollow, as employees providing primary, promotive and curative healthcare under national health programs continue to suffer.
"We have never received our salaries on time, and despite working tirelessly like other employees, we are given stepmotherly treatment for unknown reasons," she said.
Jabeen lamented, "We are unable to pay our children's fees, buy clothes or meet other basic needs due to the absence of salaries since June 2024."
Other members of the association said they had met the Chief Secretary, Secretary Health and other senior officials regarding the issue, but no action has been taken on the ground.
The employees said they met the Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Itoo today, who assured them that their salaries would be released soon.
An official from Health and Family Welfare acknowledged that salary delays are a longstanding issue but expressed hope that the problem would be resolved and salaries issued on time moving forward—(KNO)