Over 500 PMAMs in J&K hospitals face salary delays, EPF-ESIC issues

* EPF for 15 months not deposited by vendor

Govind Sharma

JAMMU, Oct 2: More than 500 Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras (PMAMs) deployed across empanelled healthcare providers (EHCPs) and public hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir are facing prolonged delays in salary payments alongside alleged non-deposition of their statutory Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) contributions.

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The affected PMAMs said M/s Comtech Info Solutions, the private outsourcing vendor engaged for their deployment, has failed to deposit EPF contributions despite regular deductions from their monthly salaries. They said individual pending EPF dues have accumulated to approximately Rs 52,170 per head over the last 15 months. They have also alleged that ESIC coverage has not been provided since their joining dates.

The issue assumes significance in view of the State Health Agency's order dated March 13, 2024, regarding hiring/management of PMAMs, DEOs and Helpers. The order records the engagement of M/s Comtech Info Solution Private Limited for hiring/management of the existing PMAMs/DEOs/Helpers working under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, J&K, with the arrangement effective from November 1, 2023. It also stipulates that monthly remuneration should be released on or before the 7th of every month.

The order further provides for a penalty of Rs 1,000 per day per resource if the HR agency fails to release monthly remuneration on time, while unjustified delay in crediting salary or other non-compliance with Government rules/regulations may result in termination of the contract and blacklisting of the agency.

However, the PMAMs alleged that their salaries are routinely delayed by up to four months. They said wages for May and June were disbursed late in August, while payments for July and August remained pending as September drew to a close.

The PMAMs perform key responsibilities under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), including receiving and guiding beneficiaries, explaining scheme benefits, verifying eligibility through the Beneficiary Identification System (BIS), facilitating e-card generation and managing transaction desks.

They also execute pre-authorisations on the Transaction Management System (TMS), coordinate medical documentation, handle discharge claim submissions, respond to pre-authorisation and claim-related queries and assist in resolving grievances at hospital transaction desks.

"EPF is deducted from our salaries, but the amount has not been deposited with the concerned authorities. At the same time, our salaries are also not being released regularly," a PMAM said.

Another PMAM said the employees had submitted a representation to the State Health Agency (SHA) around a month ago, seeking intervention in the matter. "We have already approached the concerned authorities and are waiting for the issues to be resolved. We only want our pending salaries and statutory benefits to be cleared," the worker said.

The affected employees stated that they had earlier raised the issues with the outsourcing agency and administrative authorities but no concrete resolution had followed. They said they are now considering approaching the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Labour Department and Labour Court regarding the alleged non-deposition of statutory dues, salary delays and employment-related grievances.

The PMAMs also expressed concern over the impending expiry of the contract of M/s Comtech Info Solutions in November, saying they fear losing their hard-earned money deducted towards EPF if the pending contributions are not deposited before the agency's exit. "We are worried about our hard-earned money. EPF has been deducted from our salaries for months, but if the company's contract expires in November without depositing the amount, we fear that our money may be lost or become difficult to recover," they said.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Health Agency (SHA) for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and PMJAY SEHAT Scheme in J&K, Ananth Dwivedi, over phone and through WhatsApp messages seeking his response to the allegations, he did not respond till the time of filing this report.