Shillong, Aug 28: Tura MDC Bernard Marak has urged the Centre to direct National Health Mission (NHM) for conducting fresh nursing recruitment in Garo Hills.
Marak petitioned Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh L Mandaviya on Monday in this regard
He wanted the NHM Meghalaya to conduct fresh recruitment for Garo Hills region keeping those selected for their respective districts. To cancel would be injustice to the innocent candidates, but fresh recruitment would be a better option for the Garo candidates”, he added.
According to him, an injustice has been done on the Garo nurses in the recruitment of Mid Level Helth Providers by NHM Meghalaya, where eligible Garo nurses were deprived of their rightful place by the policies and lack of transparent method adopted by the authorities.
“Barring access to the eligible Garo nurses from being recruited into MLHP has mounted into a major sentimental issue. What is interesting is that, for the post in Garo Hills no Garos were appointed but the appointments were made specifically from two institutes, that is Woodland Nursing Institution and NEIGRIHMS. No due consideration was given to other potential candidates, which included graduates from government quotas,” he said.
The MDC alleged that the number of posts was also increased after the results were declared, raising doubts over the transparency of the recruitment process.
Hence, he demanded that proper inquiry be conducted to bring out the facts and bring justice to the deprived nurses.
Marak said fresh recruitment for Garo Hills should be conducted and those selected, instead of cancelling should be posted in their respected areas/districts where they will be able to communicate at their own language.
Marak said the clarification given by the state authorities that Garos are not qualified enough for the posts is an understatement which cannot be justified as in reality and on record, there are many qualified candidates among the Garos for MLHP within the existing standards of BSc nursing as well as GNM graduates as the curriculum and requirements for BSc nursing courses remain consistent.
