Covid warriors in rural areas sans salary for past 5 months

GS Paul

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 8

Hundreds of rural doctors, paramedical staff and Class IV employees have been left in the lurch as they have not received their salaries for the past five months.

Reason: Lackadaisical attitude of the Health Department and ministerial staff, which have failed to complete the formalities in time.

Will take it up

I wonder what led to the delay? I am checking it up with the officials concerned. OP Soni, Dy CM

As many as 129 medical officers, 489 pharmacists and an equal number of Class IV employees of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat were merged with the Health and Family Welfare Department. It’s learnt barring Patiala and Mansa, merged medical staff in other districts have not been paid salaries since June.

Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, who is also the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has assured the staff of getting their salaries released at the earliest.

Ironically, the Director Health and Family Welfare had issued an order on September 15, directing all Civil Surgeons to ensure the dues were disbursed from the ‘salary head’ of the Health Department at the earliest.

Amritsar-based Dr Harinder Singh said their pleas fell on deaf ears. He said, “Many doctors have failed to pay the instalments for house and car loans. Some of us belong to humble background and are in distress.”

Dr Gursimran Singh, posted on deputation at the Patti Civil Hospital, said the last salary slip he got was in May. “We performed our duties with dedication amid the pandemic, little knowing that we will be treated in this manner. I wonder why the Health Director’s orders are not being followed.”

Tarn Taran Civil Surgeon Rohit Mehta said the four affected doctors posted in the district would get their dues soon. “There is no clarity from the government from which budget head their salaries are to be paid. We are in touch with the Health Department and as soon as we get their nod, we will release the salaries,” he said.

Amritsar Civil Surgeon Dr Charanjit Singh said the delay in disbursal of salaries was due to non-clarity on the process and strike of ministerial staff across the state.