Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: A large number of Female Multi-purpose Health Workers (FMPHWs) who are without wages for the last nearly 18 months held strong protest demonstration in front of the office of Director Health Services here today.
The Health workers led by Neelam Kumari, general secretary of Jammu Kashmir FMPHWs Welfare Association, assisted by Sushil Sudan, president Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation (Jammu province), assembled outside the office of Director Health Services Jammu and started protest demonstration followed by dharna. They were demanding release of the wages of hundreds of FMPHWs working under Head 2211-Family Welfare. These trade unionists alleged that despite several representations, protests and dharnas, the State Health authorities have failed to release their wages pending for the last about 16 to 18 months.
Mr Sudan while addressing the agitating Health workers expressed serious concern and said that over 600 workers are without wages and the authorities are not taking this issue seriously. They are facing starvation and are made to work. He alleged that it is a case of sheer exploitation and denying them wages is a Criminal Act. He said on June 23 during protest Tehsildar Jammu assured meeting with the District Development Commissioner but later it was told that DDC was out of station. Then a deputation of the FMPHWs went to the Divisional Commissioner’s office to submit memorandum but they kept waiting for two hours and returned without any meeting. They condemned the attitude of the Administration.
Meanwhile, the Association has decided to expedite its struggle in the whole region. It was resolved that massive protest dharnas will be held at all the district headquarters on July 8 and next course of action will also be announced on the same day.
Prominent among others who spoke/ present on the occasion included Urmil, Mehma Devi, Nancy Bhat, Kamla Devi, Sarso Devi, Nirmal Kour, Geeta Massih, Swarn Kour, C L Koul, Vinod Kumar, Yougal Bakshi and RP Singh.
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