PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb 14: Covid testing in Ranchi is severely affected as the VLEs appointed for the testing sat on protest today outside the Civil Surgeon Chamber located at Sadar Hospital due to non-payment of salary.
As many as 244 VLEs had been reinstated on outsourcing by the health department to increase the Covid testing. The Ranchi sub-divisional officer was instructed to pay Rs 400 per day (12,000 per month) to the reinstated workers. But 20 workers have not been paid their salaries for the last 6 months. While the rest of the employees have not received their salary for three months.
Tanjilur Rahman, who is working for Covid testing, said, “On July 16, 2021, all of us were appointed. After starting the work, the salary for 2 months was paid, but for the last 6 months, the salary has not been paid. Our financial condition has deteriorated and whenever we come to Sadar Hospital for payment of salary, only assurance is given.
On the other hand, on 12 July 2021, Tanya, who was appointed for Covid Testing, said that despite working without thinking about life during the pandemic, our due money is not being paid.
At the same time, Rita Devi, who works for Covid testing at Hatia station, said that salary has not been received for the last three months. A fare of Rs 100 has to be paid for going to and from DAV Hehal for duty. But due to non-payment of salary, it has become difficult to run the house.
VLEs were reinstated during the Corona period. They have been given the responsibility of testing Kovid. All the employees at Ranchi Railway Station, Hatia Railway Station, Khadgarha Bus Stand, ITI Bus Stand and Birsa Munda Airport were doing testing work in all three shifts. But due to non-payment of salary, the employees have stopped the testing work.
