Doda/Jammu, Sep 16 (PTI) AAP Jammu and Kashmir president and Doda East MLA Mehraj Malik on Wednesday urged the J-K government to honour its commitments to National Health Mission (NHM) employees, whose strike over service-related demands has entered its second week.
Malik said NHM employees have devoted years to the healthcare system and the government should implement the commitments made to them in its manifesto.
“They administer injections, examine patients and treat various illnesses. It is difficult for them because they have dedicated their time and earned a degree, and their dignity is also affected,” he told reporters here.
“The government has made a promise. It should fulfil it. This is not a taunt. It is a promise. It is in the manifesto. The government should implement what is in the manifesto. The future of these young people is at risk, and they are suffering. This is the responsibility of governments,” Malik said.
The NHM employees have been seeking pay parity, job security, regularisation and social-security benefits, with their agitation across the Union territory.
Malik also alleged that the Centre was withholding funds from Jammu and Kashmir, affecting the functioning of various sectors.
“They have done this in Punjab as well. Wherever they are not in power, funds are withheld,” he alleged.
“You saw this in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee’s MPs, MLAs, and the entire cabinet took to the streets when funds for MGNREGA were blocked. Here in Jammu and Kashmir too, whether it concerns NHM employees or anyone else, the state is being harassed,” Malik said.
The AAP leader claimed medicines are not available in hospitals because funds aren’t being released.
“The strategy is to harass the government and trouble the people so that the public takes to the streets in revolt, forcing the government to resign. This is their policy and their style of politics. They stoop to such lows to gain power, effectively destroying the public and trampling over them,” he alleged.
Malik’s remarks came amid the ongoing NHM agitation, which was extended by another 72 hours after talks between employee representatives and the government failed to yield a breakthrough.
National Health Mission (NHM) staff and MBBS interns across the Union Territory are protesting for over a week against low pay and demanding better service conditions. PTI AB AB SKY SKY
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.