Srinagar, Sep 17 (KNO): The ongoing agitation by National Health Mission (NHM) employees across Jammu and Kashmir is set to continue, with the employees' association extending its strike by another 72 hours from September 18 amid continued demands for pay parity, job security, regularisation and social security benefits.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA), as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the decision to extend the peaceful agitation was taken as its long-pending demands remained unresolved and there was no concrete, time-bound mechanism from the authorities for addressing the issues.
The extension means that the strike, which began across the Union Territory on September 9 and has already been extended several times, will continue as employees maintain their protests at various district, block and institutional levels.
Employees have been seeking a comprehensive employment policy, revision of remuneration on parity with NHM workers in other states, job security and regularisation, and benefits including EPF, ESI, insurance coverage, and post-retirement support.
The association said the latest extension was not a decision taken abruptly, but followed years of representations, meetings and discussions over their service conditions.
"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 protesting employee said the issue was not limited to salaries but also involved 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 female NHM employee said uncertainty over their employment had become a major concern for workers who had spent several years serving 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 also said they were conscious 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, while additional pressure has been placed on regular staff in 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, assuring them that the government would examine their concerns and make efforts to resolve issues falling 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, has maintained that it is ready for dialogue and constructive engagement, but wants a clear and time-bound roadmap for resolving the long-pending issues—(KNO)