Healthcare Services Hit Across Multiple Districts as Employees Demand Release of Withheld Wages
Bhalessa (Jammu & Kashmir): Medical staff working under the National Health Mission (NHM) launched a 72-hour strike on Thursday in Bhalessa district, protesting the deduction of 2.5 days’ salary from their monthly wages.
The protest began outside the Sub-District Hospital in Gandoh, where agitating employees gathered with placards, demanding immediate release of the withheld payment. The strike follows an official notice issued by the Medical Employees Federation of Jammu and Kashmir.
Employees Allege Unfair Pay Cuts and Disparity with Regular Staff
According to protesting workers, the deducted amount was traditionally paid as compensation for overtime duties, including Sundays, gazetted holidays, and night shifts.
Voicing their concerns, one protester said the staff had been regularly working beyond standard hours but were now being denied due compensation. Others raised the issue of unequal treatment, highlighting disparities between NHM employees and permanent government staff.
“We worked on Sundays, holidays, and nights, and were paid for those 2.5 days. Why has it been stopped now?” a protester questioned, urging the government to either restore the payment or regularise NHM workers.
Unions Lead Protest, Slam Government Inaction
The strike is being spearheaded by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Health and Medical College Employees, with strong backing from the Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation (JKMEF).
JKMEF President Jaswinder Singh criticised the lack of progress by a special committee formed on March 11 to address the issue, stating that it has failed to engage with employee representatives.
Meanwhile, JKMEF Chairman Sushil Sudan, along with members of the Paramedical Council of India (PCI), accused the government of delaying action for over three months.
Adding to the criticism, Arun Sharma, President of GMC Jammu, termed the withdrawal of the allowance a violation of earlier government directives.
Healthcare Services Disrupted Across Several Institutions
The strike has led to coordinated protests across multiple medical institutions, including Government Medical Colleges in Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur, and Doda, as well as SMGS Hospital Jammu and IG Dental College.
During the agitation, OPD services and elective surgeries were suspended between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. However, emergency services continued to function to ensure that critical patients were not affected.
District hospitals in Poonch, Samba, and Reasi also witnessed similar protests, indicating widespread unrest among healthcare workers.
About NHM: Backbone of Rural Healthcare in India
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-backed National Health Mission plays a crucial role in strengthening healthcare delivery across India, especially in rural and underserved areas.
The programme focuses on improving infrastructure, boosting human resources, and enhancing service delivery through decentralised planning at the district level.
Rising Tensions Over Workforce Issues in Healthcare Sector
The ongoing strike highlights growing dissatisfaction among contractual healthcare workers over pay structures and job security. With protests intensifying, pressure is mounting on authorities to resolve the issue swiftly and prevent further disruption to healthcare services.
