National Health Mission employees in the Health Department asked that job policies be created right away, that everyone’s salaries be revised, and that the equal pay for equal work principle be put into practise.
Doda Faizan A. Tramboo, a senior NHM leader and former district president of the NHM Employees Association, stated to the media that employees of the NHM, RNTCP, JKSACS, and other sub-schemes under the NHM, including NCD, RBSK, and IDSP, have been working in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 15 years in a variety of roles, including those of doctors, paramedics, and management staff.
Tramboo stated that the NHM employees have brought their legitimate demands, including the creation of job security and pay hike, before the government on numerous occasions in the hopes of receiving an early resolution. The employees have also taken to the streets numerous times to press their demands.
In order to discuss and examine issues like the regularisation policy, the then-Government established a committee in 2017 that included the Principal Secretary, a Sub Committee of three Directors, and an Additional Secretary. In 2017, one of the committee’s recommendations was forwarded to the Government through the Finance Department for approval.
Tramboo informed The Chenab Times that since that time, the higher-ups had not convened another meeting to address the pressing concerns of regularisation and other genuine demands.
However, they stated that all cadres of NHM employees are working tirelessly and with the utmost dedication to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, risking their lives in the process. It is unfortunate that the relevant authorities have not yet given consideration to our demands for regularisation, so it is now time for the government to address the problems NHM employees have been dealing with for a long time.
The NHM employees also told the media that although they share a workplace with their regular counterparts at the same level of risk to their lives, have comparable training, experience, and working hours, and receive benefits in addition to a salary that is four times higher than ours, no action has been taken by the state administration, led by the present Lt. Governor, to create a draft job policy for them.
The employees held out hope that the State Administration, headed by Lt. Governor, and higher-ups in the Health Dept. would take their demands into consideration and recognise the committed services provided by NHM Employees in the UT in both unusual and typical circumstances.
The employees urged that the government take complete action and initiative in the favour of those working for NHM, following the lead of Haryana, Odisha, and Arunachal Pradesh.
However, the NHM employees urged the Lt. Governor, Concerned Advisor, Chief Secretary, Financial Commissioner for Health & Medical Education, and Mission Director NHM to swiftly resolve their sincere requests and give justice.
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Farid Ahmed Naik is Executive Editor for The Chenab Times and first Sarazi language news reporter. He also covers Crime and Politics on CT. Read More…
