At the end of a night shift, while the hospital slowly wakes up, I sit on a cold bench outside the ward and slip off my shoes. My feet throb, swollen and numb after 24 hours of standing—monitoring fragile heartbeats, pushing life-saving drugs, rushing into emergencies, holding hands that tremble with fear, whispering reassurance to families who are praying for a miracle.
The corridors begin to fill with morning light, but my body feels hollowed out. On the way home, exhaustion gives way to anxiety. I count expenses in my head-groceries,electricity, food, school fees ,transport—doing the same calculation every month, hoping this time the numbers might add up.often, they don’t.
I save lives for a living. Yet some months, I struggle to sustain my own.I am a nurse. And across Jammu & Kashmir, this is not an exception—it is the quiet, painful norm. Nurses form the backbone not only Jammu & Kashmir but in the whole country’s healthcare system. They provide round-the-clock care, ensure patient safety, and often act as the first and last point of human contact in hospitals. Yet, despite their essential role, nurses in Jammu and Kashmir continue to face low salaries and stark wage disparities across the nation . This inequality affects not only nurses’ livelihoods and dignity but also the quality and sustainability of healthcare itself.The Trained Nurses Association Of India ( TNAI ) also Demands fair wages in Jammu & Kashmir. Nursing associations working in Jammu & Kashmir have been advocating fair pay scales and wages for nursing staff, pointing out that nurses and allied personnel in the Union Territory are often placed on lower entry pay levels compared with other Indian states despite similar qualifications and responsibilities.
A System of Unequal Pay
Across the country, nurses with similar qualifications and years of experience earn vastly different salaries depending on where they work. Nurses employed in central government institutions or other state govt hospitals & union territories generally receive better pay under structured salary frameworks. In contrast, nurses working in govt hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir with same qualifications & skills often earn significantly less—sometimes barely enough to meet basic living costs. This is not a reflection of skill or dedication, but of geography, policy gaps, and institutional priorities.
Why Do These Disparities Exist?
One major reason is the unequal allocation of healthcare funding across j&k. Wealthier states are able to invest more in healthcare infrastructure and staff salaries, while others struggle with limited budgets. As a result, nurses compensation becomes a function of state finances rather than professional responsibility. Another key factor is the non implementation of a nationally enforced minimum wage or standardised salary structure for nurses. While other state government institutions follow pay commission recommendations. This allows hospitals to set wages arbitrarily, often at the expense of nursing staff.
The growing reliance on contractual employment has further institutionalised inequality. Contract appointments reduce long-term financial obligations for institutions but leave nurses vulnerable to low pay, delayed salaries, and job insecurity. Weak regulation of private hospitals compounds the problem, as labor laws and nurse welfare policies are inconsistently enforced.
The Human Toll and Systemic Consequences
Low salaries and wage disparities have consequences that extend far beyond individual nurses. Financial stress, long working hours, and lack of recognition contribute to burnout and low morale. Many nurses are forced to leave their home states in search of better-paying jobs, leading to severe shortages in tertiary , rural and underserved areas. As experienced nurses migrate to cities or abroad, hospitals are left understaffed, increasing the workload on remaining staff and compromising patient safety. A healthcare system that depends on overworked and underpaid nurses cannot deliver consistent, high-quality care. Jammu & Kashmir is already faces a shortage of nursing professionals. Wage inequality is quietly accelerating this crisis.
The Lure of Overseas Nursing Opportunities
For many J&K nurses, migration abroad is not merely about ambition—it is about survival and dignity. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and several Gulf nations offer salaries multiple times higher than those available in J&kgovt hospitals, along with better working conditions and professional respect. While global mobility is a natural part of a skilled workforce, migration driven by domestic neglect reflects a deeper failure. When nurses leave not because they want to, but because they must, the cost is borne by the national healthcare system.
What Needs to Change
Addressing wage disparity among nurses requires urgent and coordinated action.First, Jammu & Kashmir govt needs a legally enforced national minimum wage for nurses across the union territory . Equal pay for equal work should not depend on location or employer.
Second, standardised pay structures aligned with central pay commission recommendations should be adopted more uniformly, including safeguards for nurses in private institutions.
Third, stronger regulation of private healthcare facilities is essential. Nurse welfare, duty hours, and salary compliance must be monitored with the same seriousness as patient outcomes.
Finally, incentives such as dress allowances, nursing allowances,, and clear career progression pathways can help retain nurses in underserved areas. Just as importantly, nurses must have a stronger voice in healthcare policy decisions that directly affect their working lives.
A Matter That Demands National Action
Nurses are trained to care, to endure, and to place patients first. But endurance should not be mistaken for acceptance. A healthcare system cannot expect compassion, competence, and commitment from professionals who are struggling to meet basic needs. Fair wages for nurses are not a demand for privilege—they are a demand for justice and sustainability. When nurses are valued, patient care improves, staff retention strengthens, and the healthcare system becomes more resilient. Jammu and Kashmir healthcare future depends not only on hospitals and technology, but on the people who keep vigil at the bedside through the night. Saving lives should not mean struggling to live.
Naseer Khan is a registered nurse. The views expressed are personal.
