In its first full house Cabinet meeting, the Hemant Soren Government cracked the whip on Monday, dismissing 125 doctors of rural health centres. These doctors have been found missing from their duties for long, without reporting to senior officials.
After the two-hour meeting, Cabinet Secretary JB Tubid said, “The Cabinet approved dismissal of 125 absentee doctors.” The doctors were appointed in 2009 by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission to serve in rural areas on a regular basis. But they soon disappeared. The Government had issued several notices and also published them, but to no avail.
On their part, the medicos have been complaining about the poor state of health centres, particularly those in far-flung areas that face a law & order problem. Some claim highhandedness from the Government’s side in doling out postings. “They fled just after joining the service. They can easily get jobs at some other place. The Cabinet decision was inevitable. It will send out a clear message to such errant professionals,” said a senior official of the health department.
The full-fledged Cabinet also decided to provide a Government job to Bilsent Ekka, son of Paramvir Chakra awardee Albert Ekka. The issue had been pending for long while several efforts of the martyr’s wife, Balamdina, to get the assistance had been futile. In another important decision, the Cabinet put its stamp on the ban of polythene below 50 microns thickness. The step has been awaited impatiently after the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board announced the embargo months ago.
“Now, after obtaining formal notification, the ban will be applicable. Civic bodies in all towns and cities would enforce the decision. The JSPCB will also run an awareness drive,” said Manishanker, president of the board. Besides, the Cabinet okayed four-laning of Namkum-Doranda road, which would ease traffic in the city and shorten the busy Tata route considerably.