Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: Female Multi-Purpose Health Workers (FMPHW) from the Department of Health & Family Welfare staged a protest today, alleging that their salaries have not been released for the past seven months, causing significant hardships.
Scores of workers gathered at Pratap Park, where they were instructed by authorities to protest silently, to demand the resolution of their grievances.
One of the workers, Fatima, said they had previously reached out to the Health Minister, who assured them that their salaries would be released.
“I held her feet and explained the difficulties we are facing, but nothing has changed on the ground. We have also approached MLAs, but it has been in vain,” she said.
The protesters carried placards calling for justice and the timely release of their salaries.
“We have been working tirelessly, providing essential healthcare services, but for seven months, we haven’t been paid. How are we supposed to feed our families and educate our children?” the workers asked. Click here to watch video
The protestors shared stories of the hardships they are enduring. One worker, they said, had to sell her gold to pay for her mother’s hospital expenses due to the financial strain.
“These officers receive appreciation for the work we do, but no one addresses our issues,” said another protester, Masarat.
The protesters revealed that they received a call from the Government when word of the planned protest spread, assuring them that their issue would be resolved.
“Most recently, we were told that the Health Minister would address the matter and that our salaries would be released soon,” they said.
The workers emphasized that their department receives funds from the central Government specifically for salaries, yet they remain unpaid. They expressed frustration over the lack of clarity about the reasons for the delay.
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