Srinagar, Nov 7: The President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission (JKNHM) Employees Association Muneer Andrabi on Saturday warmly welcomed the Maharashtra Government’s landmark decision to regularize contractual employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) by adjusting them against regular posts.
Expressing optimism, Andrabi said that he expects the Jammu and Kashmir Government to adopt a similar policy for NHM employees in the Union Territory, and has appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Health Minister, Ms. Sakina Itoo, to kindly adopt a similar policy for the benefit of NHM J&K employees.
“The recent move by the Maharashtra Government is highly commendable and serves as an example for other states and Union Territories to follow. We are hopeful that the same pattern will be implemented for the dedicated NHM employees of Jammu and Kashmir,” Andrabi said in a statement issued here.
He added that the Mission Director, NHM J&K and Director Health Services Kashmir, have already submitted recommendations to the government, urging regularization of contractual staff working under the mission.
Andrabi said that “the file regarding this matter is currently lying with the Administrative Department of Health and Medical Education, and we are hopeful that it will receive the government’s approval soon,” adding, “emphasizing that such a decision would significantly boost the morale of thousands of NHM employees serving across Jammu and Kashmir”,
Highlighting the employees’ contribution, Senior Vice President Altaf Ahmad Bhat said that the NHM workers have been working tirelessly—often in challenging conditions—to ensure delivery of quality healthcare services to the public.
“The commitment made by Omar Abdullah towards the welfare of NHM employees should be fulfilled. We expect that his government will take immediate and appropriate action to regularize the services of these hardworking health workers,” Bhat further added.
He reiterated the association’s unwavering dedication to serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed confidence that their long-pending demand for regularization would soon be realized.