Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 25: National Health Mission (NHM) employees in Jammu & Kashmir have expressed strong resentment and concern over the non-payment of their salaries on time. They have urged the government to take the matter seriously on humanitarian grounds saying they are suffering a lot.
Abdul Rauf, chief spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association said that nearly 11,000 employees working under the ambit of National Health Mission in various hospitals across J&K are not receiving salaries on regularly.
“These frontline workers are performing their duties that too without any risk allowances,” he said.
Rauf said it has become a routine on part of the government to not release salaries to NHM employees on a timely basis. “We are working 24 hours and augment the health services to general people, but in return, we are being deprived of basic dues,” he said.
“90 percent of our share comes from the Union government but the money that comes as our salary is being diverted here, which results in delay,” he claimed, adding, “There is a complete apathy on part of the government. The authorities are forcing us to hit the streets. We may be forced to take harsher steps the responsibility of all which will squarely lie on the government.”
The spokesperson urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take serious note of the issue. “The LG Sahab should also initiate process regarding our job security so that we are able to put our best and concerted efforts to achieve the objectives of the Mission,” he said.
