Salaries of COVID Appointees withheld for months
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 20
The health sector in Nagaland has witnessed some drastic measures as well as changes, over the past two years, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes included ramping up government health services at an unprecedented level, a direct result of which also included the augmenting of the pre-existing medical workforce, especially doctors, to new highs. It implied the state government creating new posts, besides filling up then vacant posts in the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Department through an extraordinary recruitment drive.
It took shape in the form of an advertisement published in August 2020, inviting applications to fill 198 posts. The bulk (183 posts) of it was for clinical positions - 15 posts of Junior Specialists and 168 Medical Officers - and 12 others for Research Scientists and Laboratory Technicians.
This culminated with the phased appointment of 168 doctors as Junior Specialists and Medical Officers bracketed in the Pay Level - 13. The period of engagement was for one year or “till regular appointment is made though the NPSC, whichever is earlier,” according to the appointment order.
Conversely, in July 2020, the H&FW Commissioner & Secretary had notified “guidelines for recruitment and service condition” based on the recommendations of the state Cabinet earlier in June. It stated, “This appointment will be temporary/fixed and regular recruitment shall be conducted through a special NPSC recruitment drive for all post coming under the purview of NPSC.”
The doctors, who were subsequently appointed, were then placed in various government health establishments across the state, in between November 2020-July 2021. This set of doctors also came to be known as ‘COVID Appointees.'
Things appeared smooth; the government injecting much needed medical workforce for running its health infrastructure. But then something began to nag the government as well as the doctors engaged via the special recruitment drive. It was wages which came in fits and starts.
As disclosed by sources familiar with the matter, the salaries for this set of doctors were frequently delayed. “The first batch of doctors, who were appointed in November 2020, got their first salary only in May 2021,” claimed one of the sources, on condition of anonymity.
Whether it was the erratic salary or the terms and conditions of their engagement, more than a fourth of the total 168 resigned. “Some opted out because the terms and conditions were not favourable career-wise and some went on study leave,” said the source.
At present, around 120 remain in service with a majority of them assigned to health centres in the interiors or “outposts,” claimed another source. But their salaries have stopped coming since July, 2022. It was further disclosed that out of the remaining lot, some have cleared the NPSC.
The salaries of other personnel, like nurses and medical technicians, appointed during the pandemic are also said to be released sporadically.
No PIMS
Queried on the likely reasons for the delay, the source said that the Directorate (H&FW) attributed it to issues related to registration of details of ‘COVID Appointees’ in the Personnel Information Management System (PIMS), which has become mandatory since November 2021.
As claimed by the sources, the Directorate is yet to submit the details of the ‘COVID Appointees’ as demanded by the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR). It includes, besides other details, submission of segregated data of appointees against the respective posts to which they were appointed— whether the engagement was against a newly created post or a vacancy arising from retirement, study leave or promotion.
The doctor’s attempts to address the salary issue have allegedly been treated with contempt as opposed to being hailed as heroes at the height of the pandemic. As told, “At the height of the pandemic, these doctors were hailed as COVID warriors, but today, when they seek redress, they are condescendingly called COVID walas.”
One of the sources added, “Actually, there were not many takers for the posts advertised in August 2020. The number of applicants (doctors) fell way short of the requirement (183 posts).”
