Srinagar, Sep 12: Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday appealed to striking National Health Mission (NHM) employees to end their protest and return to duty, asserting that the government is actively examining their demands and has already taken up the matter with the Centre.
Speaking to media as per Kashmir Convener health minister Sakina Itoo said the NHM workers are “our own people” and urged them to resume work, emphasising that doctors and paramedical staff perform a “sensitive duty” and their continued protest was not appropriate.
“I want to say that the doctors and their staff are doing a sensitive duty. It is not permissible for them to protest. They have met me as well. They are our own people,” she said.
The minister said she had spoken to the protesting employees even before their strike began and tried to convince them that their issues would be addressed.
“We have never stopped them. I have spoken to them before the protest. I have tried to convince them. I have said that we will examine your problems. We will do what is in our hands,” minister Sakina Itoo said.
She said the issues that fall outside the purview of the state government have already been flagged with the Union Health Ministry. “What is not in our hands, we have already sent your proposal to the Government of India,” she said.
Recalling her recent visit to Delhi, the minister said she raised the issue of NHM workers’ low salaries at a conference attended by the Union Health Minister.
“When I went to Delhi, the Honourable Union Health Minister was there. In that conference, the point that I raised the most was about the NHM workers. I told him that their pay is very low. It is very expensive these days. He has accepted it,” she said.
“Our proposal has also been sent to him. Once again, I have told him that I will send him a reminder in Delhi so that he can help them,” minister Itoo added.
The minister said two or three issues, including leave salary and pension benefits, are under examination. “There is the issue of leave salary. There is also the issue of pension benefits. Our government is examining it,” she said.
Cautioning against the continuation of the strike, minister Itoo said, “If we go to protest like this, I don’t think it will be right. Sometimes, the government is forced to take a step that we do not want to take. Because they are our own people. They are our own children. They are our own brothers and sisters.”
“Today, I request them to come back,” she said.
In a sharp political attack, the minister questioned the role of those supporting the strike and asked what the BJP-led government at the Centre had done for the workers since 2019.
“I also want to ask those people who go and sit in their protests. Tell me, whose government is here after 2019? The BJP is running the government,” she said.
“What has the BJP done for the workers since 2019? I want to ask them. Fifteen years have passed since 2019. Your government is in Delhi. For the third time, the Prime Minister is from the BJP. What has the BJP done?” she asked.
Taking a swipe at a political leader who claimed she would bring orders from Delhi, minister Itoo said, “The other day, I was listening to a leader who said that he will go to Delhi and bring orders. I know that you are the daughter of the BJP. Go to Delhi and give us a state. You have destroyed Jammu and Kashmir. Nothing is on track today.”
“But the permission to ask questions is ours and not yours,” she said.
Assuring the workers of the government’s support, the minister said, “I want to assure the workers. They are our people. They are our brothers and sisters. They work in a profession where they take care of people’s health. We have problems in patient care.”
“I request them to return to their duties. The government is already examining their issues. And God willing, they will be helped wherever they are,” minister Itoo said.
Notably, the National Health Mission (NHM) employees continued their strike across Jammu and Kashmir for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, citing the government’s failure to take concrete and time-bound action on their long-pending demands.
Comments are closed.