Fill posts blocked by staff on ex-India leave: Mohindra

1,500 VACANCIES OF DOCS, PARAMEDICAL STAFF BLOCKED BY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ABROAD FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS

CHANDIGARH: Adopting a strict approach, the Punjab health department has decided to fill the posts which are lying blocked for more three months by employees who have moved on ex-India leave.

The ex-India leave is sought by government employees for visiting a foreign country.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by health minister Brahm Mohindra last week in the wake of complaints that various posts are lying blocked and non-functional as the staff has moved on ex-India leave.

“Many MLAs have submitted their complaints to me about the health department functioning being hit by the non-availability of staff, who are on ex-India leave. We are dealing with such cases strictly and would not allow any laxity in delivering health services,” Mohindra told HT.

According to data procured from the directorate of health services, around 1,500 vacancies of doctors and para-medical staff in different hospitals and government medical colleges are lying “blocked” as the staff concerned has been on ex-India leave for more than six months. “In many cases, there are dispensaries where the doctor or the other staff has moved on ex-India leave. When we go for transfers, all these posts are shown as fulfilled,” an official told HT, on the condition of anonymity.

In June last year, the state government had capped the duration of ex-India leave to three months and made it mandatory for employees seeking leave for more than three months to take permission from the chief minister.

“But this also failed to set things right as employees use political pressure to get leave and get it extended, by citing one or the other reason,” said a senior functionary of health department. He added, “In many cases, it was found that the para-medical staff availed ex-India leave for two years and got themselves employed in foreign countries. Many have even sent their resignations after getting settled there.”

The health minister hoped that recruitment for the blocked posts would act as a deterrent to those employees who are taking their duty casually and exploiting the system for their own benefit.