Rajesh Gupta vice president AamAadmi Party Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary Constituencytoday while addressing to striking NHM paramedics expressed serious resentment over callous attitude of both Union Govt and LG Administration for forcing scores of NHM paramedics who were engaged under the Emergency COVID Response Package (ECRP) to protest amidst third Covid-19 wave by not regularizing their services. Hecame down heavily on the function of government turning deaf ears towards the long pending demands of striking employees. "For how long it (govt) will take youth of J&K for granted? For how long youth would come on roads and protest that too for their rightful share?" questioned Gupta. He categorically appealed to Lieutenant Governor ManojSinha either regularize all 1600 NHM paramedics or resign as Lieutenant Governor’s post.
“The LG had assured them extension in services and priority in regular posts but all the assurances were verbal and no written order was passed in this connection,” he said, adding they are 1600 in number but the J&K administration has advertised only 92 posts. He said that all 1600 employees should be adjusted and their services continued under the present NHM policy.This was stated by AAP leader Rajesh Gupta after meeting Covid-19 warriors/ NHM-ECRP employees at their protest venue along withSewa Singh Bali AAPTrade Union leader, S.Amrik Singh Sasan, VeerjiKachroobesides others.
Speaking on the ocassion, Gupta criticized the policy of using and throwing like disposable stuff by Govt, saying that these paramedics deserve regularization of their services as govthad engaged them in 2019 to work as frontline workers in the Health sector and now Govt is playing with their careers which is highly uncalled for especially when Covid-19 wave is approaching us with all guns blazing. He said at a time when new COVID variants were creating havoc across the country and the threat was looming large in J&K, their services should be regularized henceforth.They were promised that their services will be regularized if they serve during the Covid period but in the month of September, they were handed over termination letters. Later, LG ManojSinha personally visited them at the protest site and assured 3 months of extension in services and priority in recruitment of regular posts, ” he added.