*Employees hopeful of early clearance of pending dues
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, May 19: Bringing relief to thousands of healthcare workers engaged under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Mission Directorate (MD) has sanctioned and released Rs 150.84 crore under different healthcare components for payment of salaries, incentives and stipends across the Union Territory.
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The funds have been released under the Flexible Pool for Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), Health System Strengthening (HSS), National Health Programme and Urban Health Mission for the financial year 2026-27.
According to an official order issued by Mission Director, NHM J&K, Akriti Sagar, the amount has been released through the BEAMS via SNA-SPARSH “Just-in-Time Release of Funds” mechanism after approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and authorization by the Health and Medical Education Department, J&K.
The released funds are meant for disbursement of salaries of NHM employees, outsourced staff, incentives for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and stipends for DNB candidates working in various healthcare institutions and programmes functioning under the Mission in J&K.
As per the order, the allocation has been made among district health societies, tertiary healthcare institutions, Government Medical Colleges and other implementing agencies operating under the NHM framework across the Union Territory.
Among the districts, Kupwara received the highest allocation of Rs 12.15 crore followed by Jammu district with Rs 11.50 crore, Budgam with Rs 11.47 crore and Baramulla with Rs 10.91 crore.
Funds have also been earmarked for several major healthcare institutions including Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, GMC Srinagar, SKIMS Medical College Bemina, Government SMGS Hospital Jammu, Government LD Hospital Srinagar and Government Children Hospital Srinagar besides district hospitals and associated health establishments.
The order further directed all implementing agencies and Drawing and Disbursing Officers to ensure that the funds are utilized strictly for the purpose for which these have been sanctioned and in accordance with NHM guidelines, General Financial Rules 2017 and other financial instructions issued by the Government from time to time.
The authorities have also been instructed to maintain proper financial records, ensure transparency in expenditure and submit regular financial monitoring reports under the SNA-SPARSH mechanism.
Meanwhile, president of NHM Employees Association J&K, Rohit Seth, expressed hope that the release of funds would pave the way for timely disbursement of pending salaries of NHM employees for April and May and even March salaries in certain cases.
He said thousands of NHM employees and field workers across Jammu and Kashmir had been waiting for release of their wages for the past several weeks and hoped that the dues would now be cleared without further delay, providing much-needed relief to the employees engaged in healthcare delivery across urban and rural areas of the Union Territory.
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