Protesting NHM Staff Seek Roadmap for Dialogue Strike Enters 8th Day as Health Services Face Strain

Srinagar | September, 16: The strike by National Health Mission (NHM) employees entered its eighth consecutive day on Wednesday, with protesting staff demanding pay parity, job security, regularisation, and comprehensive social security benefits. Organised under the banner of the J&K National Health Mission Employees Association, workers have extended their agitation following the lack of a concrete government response. The prolonged absence of NHM personnel has increasingly impacted healthcare outreach programmes and strained regular hospital staff across the region.
Protesting workers emphasized that their agitation stems from years of systemic neglect. “We have been working in the health sector for years and have continued our duties during difficult situations. Despite this, there is still no clear policy regarding our future. We want the government to frame a proper mechanism that recognises our service and provides us with employment security,” one employee said. Others highlighted severe wage disparities compared to NHM workers in other states, stating, “Our responsibilities are almost the same, but there is a disparity in remuneration and benefits. We are only seeking a fair and dignified wage structure.”
Demonstrators underscored that basic protections like EPF, ESI, and life insurance are vital for their families’ stability. “Many of us have devoted a major part of our working lives to NHM services. We have families and financial responsibilities, but there is still no certainty about our future,” a female worker shared. While expressing regret over the inconvenience caused to patients, employees reaffirmed their willingness to negotiate. “We understand that healthcare is an essential service. But our demands have also remained unresolved for years. We are ready to sit across the table with the government and discuss every issue if there is a clear and time-bound roadmap,” another protester added, calling for immediate, structured talks to resolve the impasse.