Srinagar, April 1, KNT: Employees of the National Health Mission staged protests across district headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir, pressing for salary revision, a clear job policy and welfare measures, officials and participants said.
In Srinagar, protesting employees assembled under the banner of the All J&K NHM Employees Association and raised slogans in support of their demands.
The protests are significant as they reflect growing discontent among healthcare workers engaged under the National Health Mission, many of whom have been serving on contractual terms for years.
Participants said their primary demands include revision of salaries, formulation of an immediate job policy and a “golden handshake” package for retired NHM employees.
National Health Mission (NHM) — Key Facts
The National Health Mission (NHM) is a flagship programme of the Government of India launched in 2013 to strengthen public healthcare delivery across the country.
It subsumed the earlier National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), aiming to provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to both rural and urban populations.
NHM focuses on improving maternal and child health, reducing disease burden, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and ensuring availability of trained medical and paramedical staff.
The mission operates through a large workforce that includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, ASHA workers and support staff, many of whom are engaged on a contractual basis.
NHM plays a critical role in implementing key health programmes, including immunisation drives, disease control initiatives and emergency health responses.
They alleged that NHM staff, including doctors and paramedical workers, were being continuously ignored despite their contributions to the healthcare system.
“We have been raising these issues repeatedly, but there has been no concrete response,” a protesting employee said.
Protesters warned that they should not be forced to take to the streets repeatedly to press for their demands.
Reports said similar demonstrations were held in multiple districts, with employees gathering at designated headquarters and voicing concerns over service conditions.
The National Health Mission is a key component of India’s public healthcare system, aimed at strengthening health services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
NHM employees in Jammu and Kashmir have previously raised concerns over job security, salary structures and post-retirement benefits. [KNT]
