Bandipora, Jun 16: Doctors and paramedic recruited under National Health Mission (NHM) on Tuesday alleged arbitrary harassment and psychological torture by the Block Medical Officer Bandipora alleging that their monthly salaries are being frequently withheld for fictitious grounds that has taken toll on their own mental health.
Talking to Kashmir Convener, several NHM employees deployed across different locations in the block claimed that their salaries are often stalled without any proper explanation or prior intimation.
“We are discharging our duties with utmost sincerity and remain vigilant during working hours to ensure that healthcare services are not affected. Despite this, our salaries are being withheld repeatedly,” s doctor told Kashmir Convener, requesting anonymity.
He said the BMO often delays their salary on the grounds that he is not satisfied with their work while the fact is that he has failed to identify any of the parameters that has shown any poor performance.
Doctors said their colleagues recruited under JKPSC never face such issues while they work shoulder to shoulder with them always.
A group of NHM employees demanded a probe into the financial dealing of the BMO office alleging that they smell rat in the frequent delays in salaries despite availability of funds.
NHM employees said their patience is crossing the limits and they will be forced to go on strike if their issue is not resolved.
Notably, NHM employees in the neighboring Hajin block of Bandipora had also recently staged a protest over a four-month salary delay, with officials citing “technical issues in the treasury system” as the reason.
ASHA workers have also staged protests in the district over non-release of pending wages, alleging administrative apathy and difficulties in getting their grievances addressed by the BMO.
The recurring salary delays have sparked concerns among health workers about their financial security and the administrative mechanisms in place to address their grievances.
When contacted, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Bandipora, Dr Tahir Malik, refused to comment on the issue over the phone and called this reporter to his office “to discuss the matter”.
“I don’t have the authority to talk over the phone. You will have to come to my office. Only then will we discuss the matter,” Dr Malik told Kashmir Convener.
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