Srinagar | Sept, 9: National Health Mission (NHM) employees in Jammu and Kashmir began a 72-hour strike on Wednesday, demanding job security, salary revision, retirement benefits and social security. The strike, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA), is being observed at district headquarters across the Union Territory.
Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, MLA Budgam, extended support to the protesting NHM employees and urged the government to address their long-pending demands. “NHM employees have been serving the people since 2007 and have made an important contribution to healthcare, especially in rural and underserved areas. The government had given assurances, including in April 2026, to address the employees’ demands, but no concrete decision has been taken so far,” said Aga Muntazir Mehdi MLA Budgam.
“The demands for pay revision, job security and service reforms are genuine and should be resolved within a fixed timeframe,” he added.
He also expressed concern over the reported closure of more than 100 NHM centres, saying the disruption was causing difficulties for poor and needy patients who depend on these centres for basic healthcare services .He urged the government to restore services at the affected centres and hold talks with the employees to resolve the issue.
Abdul Rauoof, chief spokesperson of JKNHMEA, said the strike was aimed at drawing attention to the long-pending issues faced by NHM employees. “NHM employees are an important part of the healthcare system and have been working in hospitals, health centres and various health programmes across Jammu and Kashmir
The association has listed four main demands: a secure job policy, revision of salaries and pay scales, retirement benefits for long-serving employees, and social security benefits for employees and their families,”said Abdul Rauoof, chief spokesperson of JKNHMEA
“NHM employees have rendered years of dedicated service to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Their demands concerning job security, salary revision, retirement benefits and social security are genuine and deserve serious consideration,” he added. The association has appealed to its members to remain peaceful and disciplined during the 72-hour strike, which began on September 9.
