Kavitha wants govt to review NHM salary cuts

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Telangana Rakshana Sena chief K. Kavitha has criticised the State government for issuing GO 1195, which reportedly reduces the salaries of National Health Mission (NHM) employees, and demanded its immediate review. Speaking to the media at her party office in Banjara Hills on Sunday, along with leaders of the NHM Employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC), Kavitha said that some of the 17,000 NHM employees across the State had suffered salary cuts ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000. Questioning the decision, she said prices were rising, inflation was increasing and several areas were facing drought-like conditions. She asked why the government was reducing employees’ salaries at a time when the cost of living continued to rise.

Kavitha also pointed out that while the salaries of some employees had been reduced, those of others had been increased, and questioned the rationale behind what she described as discriminatory treatment. Alleging that the State government was failing to pay NHM employees’ salaries on time despite the Centre providing funds for the purpose, she said she would not tolerate the exploitation of NHM staff and urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to intervene immediately.

The TRS president called on the Chief Minister to direct the Health Minister to review the issue and ensure a salary increase for the affected employees. Kavitha also questioned the salary cuts, stating that Central government guidelines provided for an annual salary hike of five per cent for NHM employees.