LUCKNOW: Seven-year-old Rishabh Kashyap of Dubagga has deformities in both his legs. He was taken to the office of the chief medical officer (CMO) thrice since Monday for disability certificate. However, every time he was asked to come later as the clerical staff is on strike.
“We need this certificate to apply for scholarship. The sooner we register for it, the better the chances are that we get the scholarship. Despite having all the required documents, we are being asked to come when the strike gets over,” said Ram Babu, father of Rishabh.
Like Rishabh, many people including job aspirants, persons with disabilities, people waiting for medical reimbursements and insurance claims are facing these issues for the last one week because all works related to issuance of medical and disability certificates and approval of reimbursements have been affected.
The strike is a part of the ongoing agitation by the members of UP Medical and Public Health Ministerial Association (UPMPHMA) against large scale transfers of the clerical staff by the health directorate, which, according to the employees, are against government policy.
Around 240 clerical staff in government hospitals, including community health centres and primary health centres in Lucknow and about 1,700 such staff across the state, are boycotting work since last Saturday.
Abhishek Chaudhary, who has been selected for the job of youth development officer, is making rounds of the CMO office for the last five days to get a medical certificate he needs for joining. “The government should resolve the issue as there are 534 aspirants waiting across the state for medical certificates required at the time of joining,” he said.
Similar was the complaint of Kahkasha Fatima who has to furnish her medical certificate for joining in postal department. “The last date to submit the certificate is July 26 (Monday), otherwise it would cost my candidature,” she said.
A senior doctor of Balrampur hospital who has been transferred to Kanpur is not able to join duty as his relieving letter has not been issued yet. General secretary, UPMPHMA (Lucknow wing), Rajni Shukla said, “The transfers done by the government are arbitrary and against the transfer policy which says that maximum 20% staff can be sent to other districts at a time. However, out of 2,817 employees, around 60% (1,772) have been relocated. The rule regarding posting of couples in the same district has also not been considered. We will continue to boycott work till our demands are met.”
Director, Medical Health, Dr DS Negi said, “Though the transfers were done by the director (administration), the government is in talks with UPMPHMA and the matter will be resolved soon.”
