Srinagar, Sep 12 (JKNS): Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday said continued protests by National Health Mission (NHM) workers could leave the government with little choice but to take action, while appealing to the employees to resume their duties.
Speaking to reporters, as per news agency JKNS, Minister Sakina Itoo said the government did not want to take any such step as the protesting workers were part of the health system and their absence was affecting patient care.
“If we go to protest like this, I don’t think it will be right. Sometimes, the government is forced to take a step that we do not want to take,” she said.
The minister said the government had already started examining the grievances of NHM workers and had taken up issues beyond its control with the Centre.
“For what is not in our hands, we have already sent your proposal to the Government of India,” Itoo said.
She said the issue of low pay was among the matters she had personally raised with the Union Health Minister during her recent visit to Delhi.
“I told him that their pay is very low. It is very expensive these days. He has accepted it,” she said.
Itoo said she would send another reminder to the Centre seeking its intervention. She added that issues related to leave salary and pension benefits were also being examined by the J&K government.
The minister appealed to the protesting employees to return to work, saying their absence was creating difficulties for patients.
“They are our own people. They are our own children. They are our own brothers and sisters,” she said.
Itoo also questioned the BJP’s role in addressing the grievances of NHM workers, saying the party had been running the government at the Centre since 2019.
“What has the BJP done for the workers since 2019? I want to ask them,” she said, adding that matters requiring funds or decisions from Delhi had to be addressed by the Centre.
The Health Minister also criticised BJP leaders over the larger issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s political status, referring to a reported statement about going to Delhi to bring orders.
“Go to Delhi and give us a state,” Minister Itoo said.
“You have destroyed Jammu and Kashmir. Nothing is on track today. Then you will ask us,” she added.
Itoo reiterated her appeal to NHM employees to end the strike, saying the government was examining their demands and would provide assistance wherever it had the authority to do so. (JKNS)