*16 protesters, SI injured in clash
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 26: About 16 employees of NHM and other flagship schemes as well as Sub Inspector of J&K Police were injured today during a scuffle between police and workers when a strong contingent of police resorted to lathi-charge the protesting workers, who in the form of a rally was going towards Civil Secretariat.
On the 7th consecutive day of their protest programme, a large number of employees of NHM, RNTCP, NACO and other schemes of health services assembled near Press Club in the morning and then started protest demonstration. The workers from various districts of Jammu region joined the protest program, pressing the authorities to regularize their services.
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They raised slogans against the false promises made by the Government for framing a job policy for the employees of these organizations. Addressing the protesters, Rohit Seth (president, NHM Employees’ Association), said that State Government is not paying any heed to their genuine demands and forcing them to take aggressive measures to project their demands, which will not be beneficial for anyone, especially the needy and poor patients.
After protest demonstration the agitating workers moved towards Civil Secretariat. When they reached Dogra Chowk, the police and paramilitary force men raised barricades and stopped their movement. The protesters showed some resistance but the cops resorted to lathi-charge in which many workers got injured.
During this scuffle between police and protesting employees, movement of vehicles was also disrupted for some time and a police officer identified as Sub Inspector Sumit Sharma, Incharge, police post Talab Tillo, also sustained minor injuries. Many protesting employees were carrying banners and placards in their hands depicting their demands. They had planned to gherao the Civil Secretariat but it was foiled by the police.
While speaking to the media on the spot, presidents of all the three organizations viz Rohit Seth (NHM), Nissar Ahmad Dar (JKAC) and Dr SS Samyal (RNTCP) informed that their 16 members (10 male and 6 females) of their association has been injured in the cane charge by the police. They further told that 3 of them had got fracture in their wrist, arms.
Meanwhile, a protest was also organized at Press Enclave, Srinagar, by Joint Employees Coordination Committee of NHM, RNTCP, NACO and other schemes. They raised slogans against the Government for not paying heed to their genuine demand of regularization.
While speaking on the occasion, spokesperson of the JECC, Abdul Rauoof, said that in past nine months they have been betrayed multiple times through hollow statements and empty promises by the Health Minister and higher authorities of Health Department and now they need concrete documentation and formal policy safeguarding interests of all categories of employees including doctors, paramedics and management.
In the meanwhile, Sushil Sudan, president, JKMEF, in a statement issued here, condemned the lathi-charge on the innocent workers, who were peacefully protesting for their rights. He also extended Federation’s support to the demand of the protesting workers.
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