Srinagar: National Health Mission (NHM) employees on Friday extended their ongoing 72-hour strike by another 72 hours across Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the government has failed to take concrete and time-bound action on their long-pending demands.
The decision was taken by the Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA), which said the extension would take effect from September 12 as issues related to salaries, job security and retirement benefits remain unresolved despite repeated representations and assurances.
Employees associated with various NHM programmes, including the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), continued protests at district, block and field-level health establishments across the Union Territory.
The association said thousands of NHM employees have been serving under contractual arrangements for nearly 18 years and continue to work without a clear policy governing their long-term service conditions.
The employees are seeking revision of salaries and remuneration, a comprehensive job security policy, retirement and social-security benefits, and a time-bound mechanism for addressing other service-related issues. They have also demanded a “Golden Handshake” retirement package and welfare measures to provide financial security after retirement.
Protesters said their concerns go beyond salary enhancement and include dignity, social protection and certainty about their future after years of service in the healthcare sector.
The association maintained that NHM workers have played a key role in healthcare delivery, including during public health emergencies and disease-control programmes, and urged the government to convene a high-level meeting to resolve the issues through dialogue.
Stating that the agitation is not directed against healthcare services or the public, the employees said they remain open to negotiations and hope the government will initiate meaningful talks to end the impasse.
The extended strike will continue for another 72 hours beginning September 12, with employees reiterating their demand for a concrete and time-bound resolution to their grievances.
