Protest by paramedical health staff ends

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 26

The protest by para-medical health employees against the district malaria officer ended on Tuesday after the latter was transferred to a dispensary.

The Paramedical Health Employees’ Association had written a letter to Civil Surgeon Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, threatening to intensify the stir if action was not taken against the official till November 25.

On Tuesday morning, association members from other districts reached the Civil Hospital and staged a protest. They alleged that dengue larvae were recovered from the house of district malaria officer Dr Umesh Gupta, but its report was suppressed. The protesters also alleged that the officer also misbehaved the employees who demanded that the report should be sent to the MC.

Civil Surgeon Dr Amrik Singh on Tuesday held a meeting with para-medical health employee to resolve the issue. At the meeting, employees were adamant on the transfer of Dr Gupta. In the end, the Civil Surgeon transferred the district malaria officer to the Janta Nagar dispensary. Subsequently, the employees ended the protest.

Around three weeks ago, insect collector Jatinder Singh posted in the Health Department had prepared a report on the larvae found from the house of Dr Gupta and when the report reached the district malaria officer, he objected to it. Dr Gupta had said, “These persons are hatching conspiracy for not doing work.”

Gagandeep Singh, president of the Paramedical Health Employees’ Association, said, “Dr Gupta was unwell a few days ago. So, employees of the Health Department’s malaria wing went to his house to check him. During the checking, larvae were found at the house. Later when Jatinder talked to Dr Gupta about the challan for the presence of the larvae, he misbehaved with him. Irked over it, employees had told the Civil Surgeon and other senior officials about the issue, but to no avail. After that, employees of the malaria wing had initiated an indefinite pen-down strike at the Civil Hospital.