Srinagar, Sep 17: Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday appealed to striking National Health Mission (NHM) employees to return to duty, saying their work is “sensitive” and that the government is examining their demands, including issues related to remuneration, leave salary and pensionary benefits.
Itoo said she had met the protesting employees several times and had tried to persuade them to call off the strike.
“I have never stopped them. Whenever they came to meet me, I spoke to them. Even before this protest, I spoke to them. I tried to convince them,” she said.
The minister said the government had already taken up with the Centre the issue of low remuneration paid to NHM employees.
“There are some issues, such as the issue of leave salary and other pensionary benefits. Our government is examining these,” she said.
Itoo said she had personally raised the issue of NHM employees’ remuneration during a recent conference in Delhi attended by the Union Health Minister.
“If there was any point I raised and discussed, it was about these NHM employees. I told them that the honorarium they receive is very low. Inflation is very high these days,” she said.
According to Itoo, the Centre had acknowledged the concern and a proposal had already been submitted.
“They have also accepted it and our proposal has gone for it. I have once again told them that I will give them a reminder in Delhi so that it can somehow help them,” she said.
However, she said healthcare workers, including doctors, female multipurpose health workers and pharmacists, perform “sensitive duty” and should not remain away from work for prolonged periods.
“Doctors or their other staff, FMPHWs or pharmacists or others are performing a sensitive duty. Their going on protest is not justified,” Itoo said.
She warned that continued protests could eventually leave the government with fewer options.
“If they go on protest like this, I don’t think it is right. Then somewhere the government also becomes compelled to take steps — steps that we do not want to take because they are our own people,” she said.
Describing the protesting employees as “our own children” and “our brothers and sisters”, Itoo appealed to them to resume work while the government pursues their grievances.
“My request to them again today from here is: come back. The issues they have are already being examined by the government,” she said.
Itoo also questioned political leaders supporting the NHM employees’ protest, asking what the BJP-led government at the Centre had done for the employees since 2019.
“People come and use you today, and I want to ask those people who go and sit in their protest. Tell me, who has been running the government here since 2019? The BJP has been running the government,” she said.
“If their role is running the government here, directly, the BJP government, what have they done for these employees from 2019 till today?” she asked.
Itoo said the funding for the NHM scheme ultimately comes from the Centre and argued that political parties supporting the employees should direct their questions to the Union government.
She also criticised BJP leaders who, she said, were promising to go to Delhi to secure statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
“I was listening to a leader the other day who was saying, ‘I will go to Delhi, I will bring an order.’ I know you are the BJP’s daughter; please go to Delhi and bring statehood for us,” she said.
She accused the BJP of having caused “so much destruction and devastation” in Jammu and Kashmir and said political leaders who had been in power at the Centre were not in a position to question the current government over the issue.
“Statehood was taken away, and you have caused so much destruction and devastation in Jammu and Kashmir. Nothing is on track today, and then you will question us,” she said.
Itoo, however, reiterated that the government’s position towards the NHM employees remained conciliatory.
“I want to assure the employees that they are our own people, our brothers and sisters. They work in a profession where they take care of people’s health,” she said.
“Patient care is becoming difficult, so my request to them is to return to duty. Their issues are already being examined by the government and, God willing, wherever it is possible, we will definitely help them.”
