Seek justice, say working for decades without proper policies or benefits
Srinagar: Employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday reiterated their long-pending demands of regularisation, service bylaws, salary revision and social security benefits.
Addressing a press conference here, the representatives of the Association said that despite rendering uninterrupted services for over two and a half decades, NHM employees, comprising doctors, paramedics and management staff, continue to work without a proper job policy, uniform service rules or social security, causing severe distress to their families and dependents.
“We have been raising our genuine demands for more than 25 years through every available forum, but successive governments have failed to deliver justice to NHM employees who form the backbone of public healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir,” the representatives said.
They said that all formalities related to the regularisation of NHM employees have already been completed and lie pending at the Civil Secretariat under File No. HD/NHM/10/2015.
The Association informed that a High-Level Committee, followed by a Sub-Committee in 2018, had recommended phased regularisation of 1,026 NHM employees, a proposal that was even placed and approved on the floor of the then J&K Legislative Assembly.
“It was clearly proposed that NHM staff be absorbed against vacant sanctioned posts in the Health and Medical Education Department, which would simultaneously address staff shortages and improve healthcare delivery,” the representatives said, adding that NHM workers are trained, experienced, and already serving in rural and far-flung areas.
The Association further pointed out that during 2025–26, multiple official communications strongly supported the absorption of NHM employees, including: A D.O. from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India (April 28, 2025) advocating absorption with financial support under Mission guidelines, A detailed proposal submitted by the Mission Director, NHM J&K (May 30, 2025) and a comprehensive roadmap prepared by the Director Health Services, Kashmir (July 10, 2025).
“Despite clear recommendations and complete documentation, the issue remains stalled for reasons best known to the authorities,” it remarked.
The Association expressed concern over the non-framing of Service Byelaws, despite repeated assurances from the administration during Executive Committee meetings held in February and October 2022.
“The administration had agreed in principle to frame byelaws on the pattern of Haryana, but no progress has been made so far. The absence of service rules has created uncertainty, exploitation and insecurity among NHM employees,” they said.
NHM employees demanded immediate salary revision, stating that they continue to work on “meagre and inadequate wages” despite serving in difficult terrains and during major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, 2014 floods and other health emergencies.
The representatives added, “At a time when the 8th Pay Commission is being discussed nationally, excluding NHM employees from any meaningful salary revision is unjust and discriminatory. We urge the government to utilise the HR Rationalisation component to address salary disparities for 2026–27.”
The Association highlighted the plight of NHM employees who have retired without any financial security. They demanded a Golden Handshake of Rs 25 lakh for retiring NHM employees, with retrospective effect, under the Contributory Corpus Welfare Fund.
Other demands from the Association included EPF coverage for all categories, including doctors and management staff, paid maternity, paternity, medical and extraordinary leave, group medical insurance on corporate lines, and immediate payment of hardship allowance to employees posted in remote areas
“The continued denial of these benefits amounts to discrimination and violates basic principles of natural justice,” the representatives said.
The Association appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take time-bound decisions in the larger interest of public healthcare and thousands of NHM employees.
“Failure to address our legitimate demands will leave us with no option but to come out on the roads and launch peaceful protests,” the representatives warned—(KNO)
