IIOJK authorities’ indifference forces NHM employees to extend strike
Doctors, paramedics and other staff demand concrete action on long-pending issues
Srinagar : In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), National Health Mission employees have extended their ongoing strike-cum-protest for a further 72 hours over the authorities’ failure to address their long-pending demands.
According to Kashmir Media Service, NHM employees across the Jammu and Kashmir divisions today observed the third and final day of their initial 72-hour strike under the banner of the IIOJK Level Coordination Committee. Employees associated with various NHM programmes and categories participated in the protest.
However, in the absence of any positive response or concrete assurance from the Indian administration and concerned authorities, the Coordination Committee unanimously decided to extend the strike for another 72 hours across both the divisions. The decision was taken after the Committee assessed the prevailing situation and the response received from the authorities. It reiterated that despite years of dedicated service to the healthcare system of IIOJK, the genuine concerns of NHM employees regarding job security, social security and other service-related issues remain unresolved.
Protests continued at district and block headquarters across IIOJK, with doctors, paramedical and management staff, besides employees associated with various NHM programmes, participating in the demonstrations.
Health employees begin 72-hour strike across occupied Jammu and Kashmir
The Committee said the extension of the strike had become necessary due to the continued absence of any concrete response from the IIOJK administration. It maintained that the agitation was aimed at securing a dignified and secure future for thousands of NHM employees who have served the public healthcare system for years.
Chief spokesperson of the NHM Employees Association Jammu division, Dr Hamid Parray said, “We had hoped that the concerned authorities would come forward with a positive and concrete response during these 72 hours. Unfortunately, no satisfactory resolution has emerged so far. Therefore, the Coordination Committee has decided to extend the agitation by another 72 hours.”
Chief spokesperson of the NHM Employees Association Kashmir division, Abdul Rauf, said, “The employees have demonstrated immense patience and restraint, but the absence of a concrete response has left us with no option but to continue our democratic agitation,” he said.
The Coordination Committee reiterated that the agitation was not against the healthcare system or the people of IIOJK but was aimed at drawing the authorities’ attention to the genuine and long-pending concerns of NHM employees. It urged the authorities to utilise the additional 72-hour period to initiate concrete measures for resolving their long-standing demands.
