800 employees hope for regularisation in fate-deciding CS-Admin Secy meeting

SRO-384 to remain or go?

BIVEK MATHUR

JAMMU: Uncertainty looms large over the future of around 800 Medical Education Department employees appointed under the SRO-384 on academic arrangement basis during Omar Abdullah-led National Conference-Congress government, as a meeting of the Administrative Secretary, H&ME with the Chief Secretary, BB Vyas on March 22 will decide their fate.

The meeting is believed to be crucial because the Administrative Secretary of concerned department will put forth the point of regularization of these employees working both in Jammu and Srinagar.

According to an employee who wished not to be named, hundreds of employees were appointed in the Omar government under the SRO-384 on academic arrangement basis initially for a period of 4 years, in all the prestigious health care institutes of the state, primarily in the Super Specialty Hospitals (SSHs) of the twin capital cities.

He said, “Later on, the SRO-384 was amended by the same dispensation (Omar Abdullah-led government in a cabinet meeting) to a period of 6 years. Thus, the amended SRO-384 became 384/409.”
Now, since the six years’ tenure of a major chunk of employees appointed under the academic arrangement, is about to conclude, they’re worried about their bread.

A technician posted at SSH, Jammu, said, “It’s been almost six years working in SSH and we’ve served with full dedication and honesty to run the hospital. Moreover, most of the employees appointed under the SRO-384 have become overage now. So, they’ve limited options left with to earn the bread.”

Another paramedical staff member from Srinagar, said, “During the September 2013 floods, our employees gave their best to provide all possible healthcare facilities to the flood victims persistently for a week-period.”

He further said that the Principals of the twin Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar have also time and again applauded the staff appointed under the SRO-384 and also sought their regularization.

He said that on March 22, this year, the Administrative Secretary of the H&ME Department, Dr Pawan Kotwal would be highlighting the issue of regularization of around 800 employees with the Chief Secretary, B B Vyas.

“We’re quite hopeful of the outcome of the meeting to be held on March 22 since the Chief Secretary has also acknowledged our contribution to the health sector,” he said, adding, “We appeal the CS to come up with a comprehensive policy for our regularization.”