In yet another instance highlighting the plight of contractual workers, the Data Entry Operators (DEOs) engaged through outsourcing under the National Health Mission (NHM) Jammu and Kashmir are reeling under severe financial distress as they remain without salary for the last three months, with the fourth month already underway.

The aggrieved employees said that despite putting in long hours to keep vital health data systems running across the Union Territory, they are being deprived of their basic right to wages. “Our families are starving for want of money. We are being forced to borrow to survive. They are playing with our future and pushing us to the edge,” said one of the distressed workers, pleading anonymity.
Several DEOs expressed anguish over what they termed as the “complete apathy” of the authorities towards their genuine demands. They said that while they continue to discharge their duties diligently, NHM has failed to release their pending salaries, causing immense mental and financial agony.
The employees have appealed to the Health Secretary and the Mission Director, NHM J&K, to personally intervene and ensure that their wages are released without further delay.
They further alleged that the outsourcing agency hired by NHM has also failed to deposit their EPF contributions ever since it took charge of the outsourcing contract, deepening their sense of insecurity.
“We have been serving the health department with sincerity for years, yet today we are struggling to feed our children. Is this the reward for our hard work?” asked another employee, his voice choked with emotion.
The DEOs urged the administration to act swiftly and compassionately to resolve the issue before it pushes many more families into despair.