Several posts under NRHM remain unfilled due to confrontation between DC, CMO

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 17: Many posts in the health institutions of mountainous Kishtwar district have remained unfilled during the past several months because of confrontation between Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer and due to allegations and counter-allegations between them people are suffering immensely particularly at a time when Government has flagged health as priority sector.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in order to provide proper health-care services to the people of tough terrain district of Kishtwar, several posts were recommended to be filled under National Rural Health Mission early this year by the District Rural Health Society.
As approved by the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, who is Chairman of the District Rural Health Society, the Chief Medical Officer, Kishtwar in his capacity as Vice-Chairman of the Society vide Advertisement Notice No.1 dated February 18, 2015 invited applications against various categories of posts in the district.
These 53 posts include those of Dental Surgeon, Physiotherapist, Audiologist/ Speech Therapist, Psychologist, Optometrist, Dental Technician, Laboratory Technician, Early Interventionist-cum-Special Educator, Social Worker, Junior Staff Nurses for District Early Intervention Centre Kishtwar, District Hospital, Primary Health Centre Chatroo, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) for numerous remote areas under Medical Blocks of Kishtwar, Paddar, Chatroo and Dachhan, Adolescent Health Councilor for District Hospital Kishtwar and IYCF Councilors for District Hospital Kishtwar.
The entire process right from inviting applications, screening test and interview was completed by March 27 and accordingly the selection lists were prepared and placed before the Deputy Commissioner (Chairman of District Health Society) for approval. However, till date the selection lists have not been approved by the Chairman on the ground that selection was made by the Vice-Chairman of the Society (Chief Medical Officer) in most biased manner and several favorites were accommodated.
“On the basis of complaints vis-à-vis favoritism I as Chairman of the District Health Society have declared the entire process as null and void and conveyed the same to the Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission J&K for conducting appointments afresh”, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Mohd Javed Khan said when contacted.
“Several candidates, who have been selected by the Vice-Chairman, possess degrees or certificates from un-recognized institutions and keeping in view their fake documents I have decided not to approve the selection list”, he further said.
However, the Vice-Chairman of the District Health Society (CMO) Dr Sham, when contacted, fanned ignorance about cancellation of entire selection process by the Deputy Commissioner. “Neither I am aware of any such order nor I have been intimated by the Chairman which otherwise was imperative because I am the Vice-Chairman of the District Health Society”, he added.
About allegations of favoritism, the CMO said, “the entire process was conducted in transparent manner as such the question of favouring some candidates doesn’t arise”.
Due to allegations and counter-allegations between Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, all these 53 posts have remained unfilled during the past several months despite the fact that the manpower on these posts had to be deployed by ending March keeping in view the normal procedure being followed for NRHM posts.
“This is for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir that such a situation has arisen in any of the district during the process of engagement of manpower under NRHM”, sources said, adding “till date only verbal complaints from non-selected candidates have been received in the office of Mission Director NRHM J&K but allegations and counter-allegations between Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the District Health Society have surfaced for the first time”.
“Whatsoever the reason may be the fact is that posts remain unfilled and people have been deprived of the services of the manpower to be engaged against these posts”, sources regretted.
When contacted, Mission Director NRHM J&K, Dr Yashpal Sharma said, “Deputy Commissioner has requested us to conduct the process afresh on our own, which otherwise is against the State wide policy of engaging manpower under NRHM”, adding “Deputy Commissioner should not have any difficulty in conducting the selection process afresh as he is authorized to do so for being the Chairman of the District Health Society”.
“Deviation from the State wide policy would require approval of the Governing Council headed by the Chief Secretary and Executive Committee headed by Commissioner/ Secretary Health and Medical Education Department”, Dr Sharma said, adding “the issue will be brought to the notice of the Commissioner/ Secretary Health and Medical Education Department for necessary action”.

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