The ongoing delay in disbursing promised financial incentives to the COVID-19 frontline workers in the Health Department of J&K is a glaring example of institutional neglect. Despite the crucial role these individuals played during the pandemic, risking their lives to protect public health, their rightful rewards remain elusive more than three years later. This situation not only undermines the morale of these workers but also reflects poorly on the Government’s ability to honour its commitments. In May 2021, the H&ME Department issued an order sanctioning financial incentives for those who directly engaged with COVID-19 patients. The incentives were not merely financial compensation but a token of appreciation for the extraordinary sacrifices made by healthcare workers during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. The amounts were designated for three months during the peak of the pandemic.
While these incentives were promptly released to the staff of the Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar, the frontline workers in the broader Health Department continue to wait. This disparity is not only unjust but also deeply demoralising for those who stood on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19. Many of these workers, including doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and orderlies, endured immense physical and emotional strain, often at great personal risk. Some even lost their lives in the line of duty. The failure to honour their sacrifices with the promised incentives is a betrayal of the trust these workers placed in their Government. The reasons for the delay, primarily a lack of funds, are insufficient justification. If the funds could be secured for the Medical Colleges, the same should have been possible for the broader Health Department. The renewed efforts by the department to secure the necessary funding, as mentioned by the Director of Health Services Jammu, are welcome, but they are long overdue. These frontline workers did not hesitate to serve when the nation needed them most; it is now the Government’s responsibility to fulfil its promise.
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