J&K Family Welfare Employees left in limbo as salary delays persist

Srinagar, Nov 2: Over 3,000 employees in the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH, and Immunisation are once again facing severe financial uncertainty as their salaries have gone unpaid for four months.

Despite repeated assurances of a “permanent solution” by J&K administration, these employees continue to be forced to “beg” for salary disbursement, causing hardships for their families.

A delegation of the H&FW, MCH and Immunisation department told Greater Kashmir that they have moved from the office of one official to another to seek the release of their salaries. However, it has not yielded anything and there is no immediate respite in their sight. A vast majority of the employees of this department are women working in difficult, rural, and often underserved areas. The issue of delayed salaries for this staff has been a recurring problem.

President Family Welfare Employees Association, Neelofer Akhter told Greater Kashmir it was difficult for the employees to come to terms with the fact that they remain unpaid despite allocation of funds and formalization of the heads under which salaries would be drawn. “Why this step motherly treatment to us, when we are at the forefront for implementing all the programs and welfare schemes under the health department and also at the beck and call for work related to other departments,” she said.

Earlier this year, the J&K Finance Department issued an order to allocate funds under Family Welfare. The order stipulated advance release of funds to cover one quarter’s salary, equivalent to one-fourth of the annual allocation from the central government. This was intended to ensure that employees received at least three months’ pay in advance, with the assurance that these funds would be recouped from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI, upon submission of an Audited Utilization Certificate. The initiative aimed to address long-standing complaints from employees who have consistently faced delays in salary disbursements, impacting their quality of life and financial stability. In July, in another major step, the government announced the release of an additional Rs. 55.58 crore under the centrally-sponsored Family Welfare Programme for the financial year 2024-25, specifically to support employee salaries. Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, issued an order to advance funds to the Family Welfare Directorate to stabilise salary disbursement. At the time, this move was seen as a significant step toward providing consistent income to Family Welfare employees.

Despite these interventions, Family Welfare staff report that the situation has worsened. “We still have to protest for our salaries despite being regular employees of the J&K government,” said one employee. Many are struggling to pay their children's school fees and to meet essential needs. “Even during COVID-19, we worked tirelessly. Today, it feels like we’re begging for our own salaries,” an employee said, echoing the growing frustration among the workforce.

For some, the financial uncertainty has led to problems in their families and personal lives. “Neither DPCs (Departmental Promotion Committees) are conducted regularly, nor do we receive our pay on time,” said another employee.

Director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Tajammul Khan acknowledged the issue but refused to comment in detail. “We are on it. Matter will be sorted out soon,” he said.