Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday expressed dismay over the delay in the disbursement of salaries to National Health Mission (NHM), and SRTC employees saying the inordinate delay in the release of salaries has affected thousands of families.
While expressing concern over the apathy which the scores of NHM, and SRTC employees, the party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said that nearly 8500 employees working under the ambit of national health mission in hospitals across J&K are deprived of their due monthly remuneration in spite of working tirelessly. “The unfortunate lot is working day in, day out during these pressing times with zeal and zest that too without risk allowances, social and security benefits.”
Far from ensuring added benefits to the employees, the government, Imran said, is not releasing their due remuneration, which in case of NHM employees has been held for three months. As the employees go without salary for nearly three months now, the administration, he said, is yet to rise to the occasion to redress their grievances to ensure that they are able to celebrate Eid. “The NHM workers have been protesting and knocking every door to have their issues redressed but the concerned authorities continue to remain volte faced to their woes leaving the employees and their families to suffer. The quandary has pushed the entire lot to the brink of impoverishment,” he said.
Imran said similarly the employees of JKSRTC have only been receiving assurances and no salaries for months altogether. The families associated with them, Imran said, are on the verge of starvation. “Due to the non-payment of salaries, the employees are not able to spend on medical treatment and purchasing basic essentials. It is not just the JKSRTC, and NHM, the employees working in various PSUs have been without salary for the last 12 and six months. The entire lot is not even able to avail their retirement benefits,” he said. So far every single assurance received by the aggrieved employees of SRTC and NHRM has not materialized. The assurances were not followed by any response, he added.
While impressing upon the incumbent JK administration to redress the grievances of NHM, SRTC and other employees, Imran said the government is duty-bound to fulfill their demands within the shortest possible time. “Denying employees their due remuneration tantamount to abuse,” he added.
