The Nagaland Congress on Tuesday said the imbroglio in the state’s health department is “disturbing”.
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has urged the state government to keep in abeyance its June 13 decision to regularise the services of 27 general duty medical officers, who were appointed on May 27.
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The 27 medical officers were appointed on the ground of manpower constraint to contain the Covid19 pandemic.
The doctors were reportedly appointed for 12 months on a contractual basis.
NPCC president K. Therie, in a statement, also urged the National Health Mission Employees Association Nagaland (NEAN) to call off its strike to save lives.
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The NEAN launched an indefinite cease work strike from June 14 over the issue while the Nagaland Junior Doctors Association warned of stern action if the health department goes ahead with the regularisation of the 27 contingency doctors.
Therie said the failure to arrive at an understanding between the state government, NEAN and NJDA, is disturbing.
“The fiasco created by the cabinet decision in the medical department during this time of pandemic is uncalled for. Regularisation was not at all a priority,” he said.
“We all understand this is the time we need maximum service output from the medical fraternity to save the lives of our people from the novel coronavirus pandemic. This is the time we must work together with the spirit of sacrifice,” he said.
Therie said the Congress party had noticed discrepancy caused to NHM employees from the beginning as they are given lower salary for the same work or more work, more posting in outposts, and their salaries not paid on time.
He said the government is expected to play a fair game with all its children and should avoid working under pressure or to please some individuals or small sections.
According to Therie, the state cabinet decision violated the spirit of fundamental rights of equal opportunity as provided in the Constitution. Whimsical decisions should be avoided, he said.
He sought to point out that the criteria or yardstick for regularisation is normally three years of service subject to performance and that the same salary for the same qualifications and the same work is the system.
He added that it is the duty of the state government to resolve the discrepancy in salaries with the central government.
Therie suggested that the government talk with NEAN and NJDA upholding the values of constitutional provisions and equal opportunity.