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391 health workers facing bleak future

By Correspondent

JAMUGURIHAT, Oct 19 � The State Government had appointed in two batches (171 in 2008 and 220 in 2010) 391 multi-purpose workers (Male) in the Health department for controlling vector-borne diseases like malaria, dangue, kalajar, chicken gunia, Japanese encephalitis etc. This was done on contractual basis at a fixed remuneration of Rs 6000 per month to cover 11th Plan period, vide DO No. 5-80/2008/NVBDCP/IDE/Contractual MPW. These higher secondary passed (minimum) and above workers were rendering dedicated services in far flung and remote areas of the districts of Assam, in fighting vector-borne diseases for nearly three years. Their contracts were extended after every six months and on October 2, 2010, it was extended until further orders.

The national agency had advised the State Government to regularise their services, to fill up such vacant posts. Their remuneration was also enhanced to Rs 12000 per month with effect from April 1, 2010 with an order to pay them their arrears within a month. As the 11th Plan is going to be over by April 1, 2012 as terms of reference the responsibility of the Central Government will end and the State Government is to take the responsibility.

But the State Government has neither started the process to regularise them nor paid their enhanced remuneration till now. In the meantime, the State Government has appointed 12825 MPWs (Male) in Assam, and there is vacancy of more than 2000 as there are more than 4000 health sub-centres, and one MPW is to be appointed in each sub-centre. As the Government is not taking any initiative to regularise these posts the future of these 391 MPWs is in grave uncertainty. These 391 will become unemployed again. The Health Minister when approached expressed his inability to do something in this matter. The MPWs had convened a meeting on September 30 last at Guwahati and a convention on October 17, to press for their demand of regularisation, and payment of the enhanced remuneration immediately otherwise they will have no alternative but to take agitational process such as sit in strike. These wretched employees whose future is going to be doomed want justice and fair deal so that they can survive, as there are more than 2000 vacant posts of MPWs in Assam.

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