Editorial
Recruitment to the lower echelons of health sector
Signs of self-corrective policy welcome
On the back of the furore over the health adviser's ill-conceived announcement of inducting party loyalists in the community clinics, it is a breath of fresh air: the health directorate has stopped recruitment of classes-III and IV employees in 21 districts. This comes in response to public reaction against anomalies in recruitment procedures. Detractors could say that the health directorate has caved in to public criticism; but would the government have stopped the process had it not been itself convinced of the opacity? Thus in our eyes' it is a self-corrective move worthy of appreciation. But in any case the government should at all events uphold the principles of fair-play, justice and job-specific eligibilities.
There have been allegations of political influence, corruption and irregularities tainting the process of recruitment of health workers in a large number of districts. That the government has paid heed to the grievances of the 'failed and deprived candidates' and held the recruitment in abeyance in several districts is a good step forward. But obviously this is not enough by itself. Now comes the question of adopting procedures whereby candidates who qualify the tests are recruited in a fair and impartial manner. The process should not be allowed to be stigmatized by political meddling and favourtism.
Let's not forget that this involves recruitment of base-level workers who are a very important component of the health complexes and hospitals. It is worthwhile to point out that altogether 4,217 employees are being taken in for 79 health complexes, medical colleges and civil surgeon offices in 64 districts. We don't know how many vacancies are involved in the review under which the 21 districts have been brought. Whatever it is, there is a lesson to be drawn from the stoppage of a process once undertaken.
We, would therefore urge the health directorate to avoid any pitfall in future in a bid to establish the right precedent for recruitment to all categories of employees, especially when it involves recruitment on a massive scale. That is not to say that appointment to high places, howsoever small in number, will receive any less attention; on the contrary it is the exact opposite that should be the case to make government appointments in general credible.
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