Altaf Bukhari calls on govt to address genuine demands of protesting NHM employees

Srinagar, Apr 01: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday urged the government to address the genuine issues and grievances of employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM), who are currently staging a 48-hour sit-in protest in Srinagar to press for their long-pending demands.

According to a statement issued here, Apni Party President expressed deep concern over the government’s negligence in addressing the long-pending demands of the NHM employees and said that these workers give their blood and sweat while performing their duties. Yet, the administration has failed to address their legitimate demands, including immediate pay revision in line with other states, a secure job policy, and the implementation of social security benefits such as EPF, ESI, insurance, and post-retirement support.

He said, “These employees are the silent backbone of grassroots healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and underserved areas. From routine immunisation drives to critical emergency responses, their contribution has been indispensable, yet grossly under-recognised in policy frameworks.”

“Unfortunately, these frontline workers continue to operate under an uncertain service structure, without job security, fair wages, or institutional safeguards. This contradiction between responsibility and recognition is deeply unjust,” he added.

He further said that several states across the country, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana, and Rajasthan, have already taken steps to end the ad-hoc system by regularising service conditions, ensuring equal pay, and providing social security benefits to NHM employees.

“This clearly shows that both the administrative system and policy examples already exist. What is missing in Jammu and Kashmir is not the capacity, but the intent and priority to address the issue,” he asserted.

Apni Party President urged the government to move beyond assurances and adopt a time-bound, structured policy intervention, including a clear roadmap for regularisation of long-serving NHM employees, immediate rationalisation of wages in parity with other states, comprehensive social security coverage including EPF, ESI, insurance and post-retirement benefits, and the formulation of a dedicated service policy to end years of uncertainty.

Reaffirming his party’s pro-people commitment, Bukhari stated, “A welfare-oriented governance model cannot be sustained on the shoulders of an insecure workforce. If we are serious about strengthening public healthcare, we must first ensure dignity, stability, and justice for those who deliver it.”

He further added that addressing the concerns of NHM employees is not merely an administrative exercise, but a direct investment in the health security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Apni Party firmly believes that governance must be people-centric, responsive, and rooted in justice. The aspirations of NHM employees are aligned with the larger public interest, and therefore, their resolution must be treated as a priority, not a pending file,” he concluded.