STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: All JK National Health Mission (NHM) Employees’ Association on Wednesday held a protest in support of their demands at Exhibition Ground, here near Press Club.
Hundreds of NHM employees from various parts of Jammu region participated in the demonstration. Carrying placards in their hands, the workers raised slogans against the government for ignoring their demands.
While addressing the protesting NHM employees, Rohit Seth, Provincial President of the Association, said, “The mission was started by Government of India, Ministry of Health throughout the country and in J and K it was implemented in the year 2007 and about 20,000 employees and 25,000 ASHA workers are working under this mission in J and K and providing health care services in rural and urban areas in Health Department in J and K but a meager salary is being paid to them, as their services have not been regularised”. Seth demanded that those NHM employees who have completed five years of service be regularised and rest of the employees be given equal salary at par with permanent employees in reference to Supreme Court’s verdict i.e. equal pay for equal work till their regularisation.
He also demanded that minimum 10 per cent increment be given to all the NHM staff yearly, transfer policy be framed for NHM employees, all the NHM employees be provided facilities like provident fund, maternity leave, baby care leave, medical leave, earned leave, medical insurance and life insurance.
He further said that the steps must be taken to ensure job security for NHM employees.
He urged upon the Health Department to redress the grievances of employees with positive attitude, otherwise association will intensify their agitation programme in support of their genuine demands.
Subash Verma and Ashok Choudhary State President and General Secretary of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Sushil Sudan President of Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation also addressed the employees and appealed to the Chief Minister to consider the demands of the NHM employees.
