NHM Employees to observe three days complete pen down strike

Held protest at DH Doda

Doda, Jan 18: A large number of National Health Mission Employees of Doda District under the banner of All J&K NHM Employees Association Jammu Division on wednesday held a strong protest and observe complete pen down strike in the District and were demanding regularization of their services.
Earlier, the NHM Employees amidst snowfall gathered at CMO Office Doda from where they marched towards District Hospital Doda, holding playcards in their hands.
Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the NHM Employees Doda Faizan A Tramboo said that the aim of holding this protest and strike is to inform the State Govt as well as Concerned Authorities about the genuine grievances of NHM Employees which it has not conceded sofar, forcing us to go for protests and strikes.
Tramboo also expressed great resentment over the budget session where no provision was made by Honble Finance Minister regarding the regularization of NHM Employees, which clearly indicates the callous and non serious attitude of them towards the NHM Employees.
The main demands which were highlighted in the protest included immediate regularization of NHM Employees, implementation of equal pay for equal work, maternity leave for female staff with salary etc.
Further it has been informed that more than 13000 employees are working in J&K under NHM and most of them have already crossed the age of upper limit, adding that NHM is the only backbone of health care system so Govt should acknowledge them and regularize their services.
However, similar kind of protest and pendown strikes were observed in Ghat, Gandoh, Assar, Bhaderwah, Thathri and other parts of the chenab region including Kishtwar and Ramban District.
Pertinent to mention here that NHM Employees through out Jammu Division are observing three days complete pen down strike from 18th Jan 2017 to 20th Jan 2017 in support of their long pending demands.
The protestors urged the State Govt to immediately look into this matter personally and frame a draft policy for regularization of NHM Employees. They also warned the Govt to concede the demands of them at an earliest, otherwise indefinite strike across the state would be started.
Among others who addressed the gathering included Dr Sadeeq Wani, Aishima Kotwal, Dr Shahnaz, Faizan Elahi Butt, Dr Nasir Masood and Kerti Parihar.