IMPHAL, February 18: The Nagaram headquartered ATSUM has demanded rectification of the orders of promotion and rules of Medical Health Service and National Rural Health Mission in the larger interest of the people.
Citing discrimination and exploitation in recruitment against Schedule Tribe candidates in every department, a statement from the information and publicity secretary of the students’ body termed the exclusive recruitment of doctors under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) without important disciplines like surgeons and medicine specialists by manipulative exploitation as pathetic and against the objective of the flagship program.
“The NRHM is a flagship programme with the objective of providing accessible, equitable and affordable good health service. As such doctors in the Obstetrics and Genealogy, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, surgeon and physical therapy disciplines should have been recruited for proper implementation of the program,” said the statement from ATSUM.
It further stated that specialist posts in various grades were not created subject or discipline wise for direct recruitment or identification allocation of specialists post was done on need based recruitment.
Calling it as disheartening that direct recruitment or promotion was done on the whims and wishes of those at the helm of affairs, Micah Kamei, the publicity secretary of ATSUM said that some doctors who were recruited in 2012 in spite of the protest from certain quarters were promoted to Manipur health service on the recommendation of a DPC in July 5, 2012 and these doctors who are supposed to be in the far flung areas were posted in the directorate office and hospital of the state capital.
“Manipur Health Services (MHS) cadres and NRHM cadres are different cadres. The specialist needs to be posted to NRHM by deputation only. Had this been done immediately after the recruitment in 2006, the progress in NRHM would have been achieved. The doctors under NRHM are employed either on a contractual basis or are deputed from MHS. The medical officers on repatriation from NRHM are to return to the pre-recruitment grade in order to avoid legal complicacies,” said Micah Kamei in the statement.
It further asked the government to modify its order issued on December 28, 2006 for appointment to the post of MHS grade-II in view of the observation made by the High Court in its judgment.
Alleging that by the weekend of February 2014, two NRHM doctors who happen to be the nearest kith and kin of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi will be vying for the post of the director of health and director of family welfare superseding about 107 medical officers just because they are related to the CM, the statement said that the dreams of ST Doctors aspiring to be the director is shattered by ignoring their rightful place with an ill-conceived scheme to deprive them.
The stament pointed out that if the seniority list is taken into account the ST Doctor who should be in Serial number 2 and who ought to become a Director is listed in serial number 4 to deprive him his right with a logical justification.
Terming it as unfortunate that during the last 40 years of Manipur Health Service there has not been a single ST Director in Health and Family welfare on the ground of them being ineligible, the statement said that even if the Doctors fulfill all the criteria of being a director, they have always been ignored.
The statement also served a note of caution that if such practices continue it will only aggravate the social divide on ethnic lines even further.
Meanhwile, the students’ body has called for deputing Dr. N Shyamjai to a department not related with MACS.
A statement from ATSUM stated that Dr. Shyamjai ,who was assigned as Deputy Director (M&E) after an enquiry committee on December 8 last year was constituted as various NGOs submitted an application to the Governor on November 11 asking for his removed from the post of Deputy Director (T.I), is trying to reinstate himself in his earlier post by using all possible means.
Pointing the negative consequences of his reinstatement on the implementation of AIDS and HIV control programs, the statement called it as unfortunate ‘the assertions by some NGOs that all NGOs were not consulted while making allegations to Dr. Shyamjai’ in a meeting of the MNP+ on February 13.
Urging those who are making such allegations to call a spade a spade, it further said that ATSUM will lend unflinching support to all the dedicated NGOs for smooth implementation of AIDS & HIV projects in the state.
“There are evidences of Dr.Shyamjai’s misdeeds and how he has coerced many NGOs to share some percentages of their funds. It is obvious that he has no moral value, integrity and respect for women,” the statement added.
Appealing the authorities of MACS to depute Dr.Shyamjai in a department not related with it, the publicity secretary of ATSUM in his statement said that it will not only pave the way for the smooth functioning of AIDS & HIV projects but will be in the interest of various NGOs working under MACs and the well being of the state.