Srinagar, August 13 (KNS): While stressing for formulation of a plan for their regularization, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has underlined the need for a proper transfer policy for the employees including doctors and para-medical staff working under National Health Mission in Jammu and Kashmir.

These employees have been working for the last 16 years in J&K under the National Health Mission (NHM) on contract basis. It is unfortunate that these employees have given prime of their youth to the mission but have been left vulnerable and insecure. The lack of job security, meagre salary and lack of social security haunt them day in and day out.

The government should enhance/revise wages on an equal-work-equal-pay principle. Despite repeated assurances, nothing concrete was done for their regularization so far.

We urge the administration to enhance the extent and ambit of the social security benefits under NHM Employees Contributory Welfare Fund to these employees.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelEx-gratia relief be also enhanced and a benefit/scheme be introduced for those NHM employees who superannuate while rendering their services under the Mission.

Similarly, ASHAs working under NHM perform a range of tasks from community health planning to referral and accompaniment services for reproductive and child health. But unfortunately, they are not being paid any regular remunerations instead are being forced to work on meagre incentives. These paltry incentives have not even been enhanced or revised for the last more than a decade.

Last year, the health department had assured them enhancement of Rs. 1000 insensitive from financial year 2024-25, but that assurance has not been fulfilled.

The government must take steps for regularization and framing transfer policy in respect of NMH employees, besides releasing the enhanced Rs. 1000 incentive to ASHAs.These poor ASHAs be brought under the minimum wages act. (KNS)