Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 06 (KNO): Even after lapsing for more than three decades, the health department of J&K has failed to frame service rule policy for at least 1500 multiple purpose health workers in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving them in lurch.
Multiple purpose health workers from different areas of Jammu and Kashmir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that there is no service rule policy for them due to which they are facing different problems.
They said that in 2009, higher authorities directed the health department to frame a service rule policy for multiple purpose health workers, however nothing has happened on ground.
Multiple purpose health workers who were appointed in 1994 are still working on same post as there is no service rule policy for them, said a male multiple purpose health worker from Budgam.
However, at the same time health workers who were appointed under other schemes got three to four promotions despite the fact that their educational qualifications were too less.
“Our category came into existence in 1994. But recruitment rules were framed in 1992 and since then we are given step motherly treatment and for us as there are no recruitment rules even after passing three decades,” said another worker, wishing not to be named.
He said that scores of times they approached ministers, advisors and other authorities to look into the matter, but to no avail.
A female multi-purpose worker from southern Kulgam, said that the repeated promises made to them by officers, proved hoax on ground. “We have been waiting since 1989 to see our issues addressed but so far nothing went in our favour,” she said.
She said that the fate of at least 1500 multiple purpose health workers hangs in balance as they have been waiting for the implementation of service rules. “During Covid-19 pandemic, we have been ensuring 24×7 duty, but we are unable to understand why we are being treated like this,” she said.
A senior health official told KNO that their service rule policy has been framed and is lying in office of commissioner secretary health for approval. Repeated attempts to reach out to commissioner secretary health didn’t fructify—(KNO)