Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 30: National Health Mission (NHM) employees in J&K today expressed deep anguish over the Government’s failure to address their long-pending demands, even after more than 25 years of service.
Addressing a press conference, Abdul Rauoof, Chief Spokesperson of the All J&K NHM Employees’ Association, Kashmir, said that employees have repeatedly raised their genuine grievances before successive governments for over two decades, particularly the absence of a job policy, glaring salary disparity and lack of social security.
The demands include regularisation of services, formulation of service byelaws, comprehensive salary revision and extension of social security benefits.
He said that despite rendering uninterrupted services in difficult terrains, harsh climatic conditions and during major public health emergencies, unresolved issues continue to affect the wellbeing, dignity and future security of thousands of employees and their families.
Pressing for immediate regularisation, the association said all official records related to the process have already been cleared by the concerned administrative departments at the Civil Secretariat under File No. HD/NHM/10/2015.
They cited several Government orders and said a high-level committee and a subsequent sub-committee had recommended phased regularisation of 1,026 NHM employees.
The proposal, they said, was later tabled in the Assembly by the then Minister for Health and Medical Education and received approval.
It envisaged rationalisation and absorption of NHM staff against vacant sanctioned posts in the Health and Medical Education Department to address staff shortages and improve service delivery.
Highlighting recent developments, the association said that in April 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, advocated absorption of NHM employees against vacant regular posts, assuring financial support as per Mission guidelines.
Terming existing wages inadequate, they sought a comprehensive salary revision for 2026-27, citing the challenging socio-geographical conditions in which NHM employees work and their crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2014 floods and other public health emergencies.
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