Srinagar, Sep 12: The strike by National Health Mission (NHM) employees across Jammu and Kashmir entered its fourth day on Saturday, affecting healthcare services as the employees extended their agitation by another 72 hours till Monday.
The employees, protesting under the banner of the UT-level Coordination Committee of the J&K National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA), said they would continue the strike until the Government provides a written assurance on their long-pending demands.
Their demands include salary revision, social security and retirement benefits, and a golden handshake, among others.
The employees said the Government had sought two months during their earlier strike in April to prepare a roadmap for addressing their issues, but alleged that no concrete progress had been made.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Sakina Itoo appealed to the protesting employees to return to work, saying NHM personnel perform sensitive duties and their strike affects healthcare services.
Itoo said the Government was examining issues related to leave salary and pension benefits and that a proposal concerning NHM employees had already been sent to the Centre. She added that she had raised their concerns with the Union Health Ministry and would send a reminder.
The minister also criticised BJP leaders over the delay in resolving the employees' demands, saying issues requiring approval from the Centre fall under the responsibility of the BJP-led Government in Delhi.
