Chalk out absorption, transfer policies for NHM employees: Tarigami

Srinagar, Aug 13: While stressing for formulation of a plan for their regularisation, 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 (NHM) in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, he said that These employees have been working for the last 16 years in J&K under the 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,” Tarigami said.

He stated that the government should enhance/revise wages on an equal-work-equal-pay principle. Despite repeated assurances, nothing concrete was done for their regularisation 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. Ex-gratia relief be also enhanced and a benefit/scheme be introduced for those NHM employees who superannuate while rendering their services under the Mission,” the CPI(M) leader said.

He added that 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, Tarigami added.