J&K Family Welfare employees left in limbo as salary delays stretch to four months

Srinagar, Nov 14: More than 5,000 employees in Jammu and Kashmir’s Directorate of Family Welfare, Maternal and Child Health (MCH), and Immunisation are facing severe financial difficulties, with their salaries going unpaid for the last four months.
Despite repeated assurances from the J&K administration about finding a permanent solution, these workers continue to face uncertainty, forcing them to seek the release of their pay from one office to another.
The salary delay has created significant hardships, particularly for women employees working in rural and underserved areas. Many of these workers, who are integral to the implementation of health programs and welfare schemes, are struggling to meet basic living expenses, including the cost of education for their children. The situation has led to growing frustration among the workforce, as they feel their contributions to public health are being undermined. “We are doing the same work as everyone else, yet we are treated like second-class employees,” said one worker, voicing the common sentiment shared by many of her colleagues.
Neelofer Akhter, President of the Family Welfare Employees Association, voiced the concerns of her colleagues. “Why are we being treated this way when we are the ones driving these programs and schemes? We are on the frontlines of public health, often working under challenging conditions, yet our payments remain overdue,” Akhter said.
The financial strain has forced some employees to resort to tough measures. Several have either taken loans to cover their children’s school fees or have been compelled to retire voluntarily due to the inability to sustain their families. “Our workers are experiencing significant difficulties due to the delay in salary payments. Several have chosen voluntary retirement, and some have taken loans to cover their children’s school fees,” Akhter explained. One employee, who wished to remain anonymous, shared, “I had no choice but to borrow money from relatives just to pay my child’s tuition fees. It’s heartbreaking.”
Earlier this year, the J&K Finance Department took steps to address the issue by allocating advance funds to cover one quarter of the employees’ salaries. These funds were drawn from the central government’s annual allocation, with the intention of preventing further delays. In July 2024, the government also released over Rs 55.58 crore under the centrally-sponsored Family Welfare Programme for the financial year 2024-25 to stabilize salary disbursements.
Despite these financial interventions, employees report that the situation has not improved. “We are still having to protest for our salaries, even though we are regular employees of the J&K government,” one worker said, highlighting the lack of progress in resolving the issue. “It feels like we’re being ignored, and it’s affecting our morale.”
A senior official at Health and Family Welfare said, “We have raised the issue with higher authorities, and we are actively working on it. It will be resolved soon.”
As the situation remains unresolved, employees are urging intervention from the highest levels of government, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sakina Itoo. “If this matter remains unresolved, we will be forced to protest and go on strike if our salaries are not paid on time,” Akhter said.
The employees of the Directorate of Family Welfare continue to face an uncertain future, hoping for a swift resolution to a crisis that has left many struggling to provide for their families. Despite repeated efforts to address the issue, the situation remains dire, and the workers’ calls for action grow louder with each passing day.