Strike in the entire state on the call of Medical Employees Federation.
State Bureau, Jammu. Employees remained on strike for two hours on Friday in protest against the state government stopping two and a half days additional salary of non-gazetted employees of the Health Department. This also affected health services. OPD services of hospitals remained closed and staff did not work even in the wards.
Health workers remained on strike across Jammu and Kashmir on the call of Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation. Employees gathered outside the OPD in Government Medical College, Jammu and raised slogans against the government order. The demonstration took place under the leadership of Medical Employees Federation President Arun Sharma.
He said that about two thousand employees in medical colleges and auxiliary hospitals have been affected by this order. He demanded the return of the order with immediate effect and reinstatement of two and a half days' salary.
Employees did not work for two hours
Employees remained on strike at Gandhinagar Hospital under the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation Chairman Sushil Sudan and Chief Sardar Jaswinder Singh. No employee worked for two hours. Sudan said that health workers come to work on every holiday, but in return they get only two and a half days' extra salary. They were also closed by the government.
He termed the government's order as completely wrong. He said that the government should withdraw its order and release two and a half days' salary. Jaswinder Singh said that he has met the Health Secretary and the Chief Secretary regarding his demand but till now nothing has been received except assurances. He asked to find a solution immediately.
Health workers also staged similar demonstrations at Health Directorate Jammu, Sub District Hospital Jagti, Sub District Hospital Bishnah, Akhnoor, RS Pura and various district, sub district and primary health centres. Health workers said that if their demands were not accepted then the movement would intensify. Some employees also said that if their salaries are not to be paid then they should be given leave during holidays and festival days.
OPD remained closed, patients worried
OPD services remained closed from 10 am to 12 pm on Friday in all major hospitals including Government Medical College, Jammu. Patients were forced to get treatment in emergency only. Some patients went back after seeing OPD closed. Even in the wards, patients were seen in distress. Due to the strike of the employees, the registration centers remained closed.
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