Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Sept 10 (KNS) : The sit-in protest by National Health Mission (NHM) employees entered its second day in Bandipora on Thursday, with demands for equal pay, job security, social security benefits and resolution of their long-pending employment issues.

The protest witnessed support from MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat, traders, local residents and members of the Contractors Association, who joined the protesting employees and voiced concern over the issues confronting NHM workers.

MLA Nizamuddin Bhat joined the sit-in and extended support to the employees’ demands. He urged Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo to intervene and take necessary steps towards addressing what he described as the genuine and long-pending demands of NHM employees.

Meanwhile, President Contractors Association Bandipora Naseer Ahmad Mir, expressed concern over the continued strike, saying the absence of NHM employees is affecting healthcare delivery and patient care across the district.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Mir said NHM employees have been rendering their services sincerely and have an important role in providing healthcare, particularly at the grassroots level.

“The government should seriously consider the genuine demands of NHM employees. Their continued absence from duties is ultimately affecting patients,” Mir said, urging the authorities to initiate dialogue with the employees and find an early and mutually acceptable solution in the larger public interest.

President of the Traders Association Ali Mohammad also extended support to the protesting employees, while locals joined the demonstration and expressed solidarity with their demands.

The protesting NHM employees maintained that they would continue their agitation until their long-pending demands are addressed by the government.(KNS)