Health employees call off protest at GMC Rajouri after assurances

Rajouri, Mar 25: Health department employees on Wednesday suspended their agitation at Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri after receiving assurances from local MLAs that their concerns over the withdrawal of additional salary benefits would be taken up with the government.

The protest, which had initially begun last month and was later suspended, was resumed yesterday by the employees against an order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Finance Department. The order pertains to the withdrawal of an additional two-and-a-half days’ salary that was previously granted to health employees each month for their round-the-clock duties.

Agitating employees expressed strong resentment over the move, stating that the additional salary compensated them for their continuous and demanding work schedules. They have been demanding immediate restoration of the withdrawn benefits.

On the second day of the protest at GMC Rajouri, MLA Rajouri Iftkhar Ahmed visited the protest site and interacted with the employees. He assured them that their concerns would be taken up with the government, particularly during the upcoming Assembly session.

Following his assurance, the protesting employees decided to call off the agitation.

Earlier, MLA Thanamandi Muzaffar Iqbal Khan had also joined the protest and extended his support to the employees, assuring them that he would highlight their issue before the government.