Irregularities in appointment of nurses in Leave Vacancy at Diglipur

 

Sarthak Kanjilal
Diglipur, Sep 19: The Directorate of Health a Service seems to have adopted a new system of ‘pick and choose’ in appointment of nurses in Leave Vacancy at Diglipur, violating law of this land.

As per letter issued by Asst Director (Admin) F. NP 3-5/SNLV/2012/DHS/IX/2686 dated 3rd June 2013 leave vacancy appointment should be made only on rotational basis in descending order from the list of Nurses waiting for such appointments.

The present rule also says that “no candidate from outside the roaster shall be appointed on Leave Vacancy, in any case. If a candidate is engaged as per serial no and if she is not available locally at that point of time the next immediate candidate in the roaster shall be appointed. The candidates once appointed for 45 days shall get the chance of Leave vacancy appointment letter after the completion of the roaster in a cyclic order if any new candidates report for Leave Vacancy appointment the application may be forwarded to Directorate of Health Services for scrutiny and add her name in the roaster as per seniority. All the candidates shall be given equal opportunity of 45 days Leave Vacancy appointment. If Medical Officer i/c does not follow the roaster and any Administrative problem arises in future they will be held responsible.”

But according to information received here this rules are openly violated in Diglipur region. Recently, one Ms. Seema Kispotta was given verbal order to join on leave vacancy at CHC Diglipur but after only two days she was asked to leave the duty as there was some discrepancies in the list. Soon another nurse, Ms Komal, was appointed in the place of Mr. Seema Kappor, for 45 days and after completion of 45 days she was given another 90 days appointment at PHC Kishorinagar and till date she is continuing in the said post.

Reports says that she has already completed two times on leave vacancy before the issue of order regarding area wise appointment of staff nurses, by the Asst Director (Admin).

Talking to Andaman Sheekha over phone Medical Superintendent, of CHC Diglipur, Dr Tulsidasan today said that appointment in leave vacancy is not a big issue.

“Five and a half years before there was no system to select, but now it should be appreciated that we have created a system to select the candidates in leave vacancy on seniority basis, even we have divided candidates for Diglipur, Mayabunder, Campbell Bay etc regions,” he said.

Regarding not following the same system as per seniority basis Dr Tulsi said that these individual cases can be sorted out.

“Candidates those who have such issues can approach the Director of Health or if it belongs to North & Middle Andaman can approach me with a petition or letter,” he said.

Though the Medical Superintendent has downplayed this issue but such back door entry appointment has become a constant source of discomfort for 550 odd trained nurses who wait for several months in a year, for their turn. Andaman Sheekha hopes that the Director of Health Services will himself interfere into this matter and ensure that all appointments are made strictly on seniority basis.