SRINAGAR: The National Health Mission (NHM) in Jammu and Kashmir has issued stringent directives to all health officials, emphasizing adherence to established guidelines concerning the deployment of NHM staff. The move comes amidst persistent reports of unauthorized attachments and deployments of contractual personnel in various health institutions across the Union Territory.
The Chenab Times has learned that the Mission Director of NHM, JK, Akriti Sager, an Indian Administrative Service officer, reiterated these instructions through a circular on Tuesday. The directive highlights that despite previous communications, some field functionaries have continued to deploy or attach NHM contractual staff at different health facilities without obtaining the requisite authorization.
According to the Human Resources for Health (HRH) guidelines formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, routine transfers or attachments of NHM staff are not permitted. These national guidelines are in place to ensure operational consistency and efficient resource allocation within the health sector.
The circular referenced Order No. 131 of 2025, dated August 30, 2025, which had previously addressed and officially cancelled all instances of unauthorized staff attachments. This order had also mandated the immediate reversion of such staff to their original designated postings. However, evidence suggests that these instructions have not been uniformly followed in certain regions within Jammu and Kashmir.
In a firm warning, the Mission Director stated that any Chief Medical Officer, Block Medical Officer, Zonal Medical Officer, or any other controlling authority found responsible for facilitating unauthorized attachments or for failing to ensure the prompt reversion of staff to their rightful positions will be held personally accountable. Such officials may face disciplinary actions in accordance with prevailing service rules.
The directive explicitly states, “All concerned officers are directed to ensure strict compliance of these instructions in letter and spirit. Any deviation will be considered unauthorized and invalid.” This reinforces the non-negotiable nature of the guidelines.
The NHM JK underscored the critical importance of this directive, reminding all relevant authorities that mandatory compliance is essential for maintaining the operational efficiency of the mission and for upholding the integrity of national health guidelines. The aim is to prevent disruptions in healthcare delivery and ensure that contractual staff are utilized strictly as per sanctioned norms and project requirements.
The Chenab Times News Desk