Srinagar, Aug 21 (KNO): The indefinite strike by non-gazetted employees of five new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) entered in J&K its fifth day on Friday, with routine healthcare services, including OPD work and hundreds of elective surgeries, being affected.
The employees, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), are agitating against the prolonged delay in framing and notifying Service Recruitment Rules (SRRs).
The protesting employees of GMCs Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua and Rajouri have been demanding early finalisation of the recruitment rules, which they say are essential for regulating their recruitment, promotions, seniority and other service-related matters.
Notably, the five Government Medical Colleges were established in 2019, but employees working in non-gazetted categories have continued to await a formal service framework governing their career progression and other conditions of service.
More than 3,300 employees, including nursing, paramedical, clerical and multitasking staff, are understood to be affected by the issue. The employees have repeatedly approached the authorities, seeking an early resolution, but maintain that the matter has remained pending for years.
The agitation initially began at three new GMCs earlier this week before spreading to GMC Anantnag and Baramulla, bringing employees of all five institutions under the umbrella of the indefinite protest.
The employees have maintained that the strike will continue until the Service Recruitment Rules are finalised and notified.
With a considerable number of non-gazetted employees remaining on strike, routine hospital functioning has been affected at the institutions. The OPD services have also witnessed disruptions, while hundreds of elective and routine surgeries have reportedly been delayed.
However, emergency and essential procedures continue to be undertaken to ensure that patients requiring immediate medical attention do not suffer.
The protesting employees have maintained that their agitation is not intended to inconvenience patients, arguing that the prolonged administrative delay has left them with limited options.
They said the absence of notified service rules has created uncertainty regarding promotions and other career benefits, particularly for employees who have completed several years of service.
A key grievance of the employees is the lack of regular promotional avenues and the non-constitution of Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs). They contend that in the absence of notified rules and DPCs, many eligible employees have been unable to move to higher posts despite fulfilling the required service period.
The employees have also raised concerns related to seniority, pay fixation and other service benefits associated with career progression.
The issue has assumed added importance as the five new GMCs have significantly expanded their healthcare infrastructure and services since their establishment. With new departments, wards, laboratories and other facilities becoming operational, the workload and responsibilities of employees have increased substantially, the protesters said.
They argue that while the institutions have expanded in terms of infrastructure and patient care, the service structure of a large section of their workforce remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Friday acknowledged the employees’ demand as genuine and said that the recruitment rules should have been framed by now.
She assured that the Service Recruitment Rules for non-gazetted employees of the five new GMCs would be framed by the end of September.
The minister’s assurance has opened a possible window for resolving the ongoing standoff. The employees, however, are expected to deliberate on the government’s assurance before deciding whether to suspend, continue or modify their agitation.
Speaking to KNO, AIRNF J&K UT Committee State President Vishav Sharma said that a meeting of the employees would be held on Friday evening to discuss the assurance given by the Health Minister and decide the future course of action.
“We are holding a meeting this evening and will discuss the assurance given by the Health Minister. The future course of action will be decided after the meeting,” Sharma said.
The employees have sought a time-bound mechanism for framing and notifying the rules, followed by the constitution of Departmental Promotion Committees so that pending promotion cases can be taken up without further delay.
They have also maintained that they are not demanding any special concession, but only a transparent and clearly defined service structure similar to that available to employees of established Government Medical Colleges—(KNO)