SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 28: The medical officers (government doctors) of different districts serving on deputation in Deoghar-Basukinath Shrawani Mela would get TA/DA for the first time.
Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA) secretary Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh said that Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Health Arun Kumar Singh has directed the Under Secretary of the department to release funds for the TA/DA to the doctors working on deputation at Deoghar-Basukinath Shrawani Mela.
This year due to ‘Malmas’, Shrawani Mela is being organized for two months (July 4 to August 31) and a total of 195 doctors (95-95 in two phases) from different districts have been deployed for the health services of national and international devotees.
Since the days of united Bihar, doctors on Deoghar-Basukinath Shrawani Mela deputation were never paid TA/DA.
“The ACS health took a serious note when informed about the non-payment of TA/DA and lack of basic facilities to doctors deployed in the Shrawani Mela. He immediately directed the tourism department to provide basic facilities to doctors in Deoghar and instructed the Under Secretary Jaya Kishore Prasad to release funds to Civil Surgeons for TA/DA of doctors working on deputation,” said the JHSA secretary.
Notably, staff of Civil Surgeon offices across the state get TA/DA during Shrawani Mela deputation but, at the same time, doctors are deprived of it.
Deoghar has two tourism department rest houses Deoghar Vihar and Natraj Vihar where doctors on deputation at Shrawani Mela stay every year. A doctor on deputation said that the Deoghar Vihar rest house is in a dilapidated condition but they are compelled to live due to lack of alternative. Since this year’s Mela has continued for two months, doctors face embarrassment to stay.
“When the JHSA delegation made the ACS aware of these problems he took cognizance immediately and fulfilled their demands duly,” said Dr Thakur.
The JHSA has also demanded advance payment to doctors at par with police personnel being given for the Shrawani Mela and it further demanded amendment in the government guidelines for special compensation to the doctor’s family in case of tragedy during inter-district deputation. During the ongoing Shrawani Mela, a doctor on deputation died at Basukinath (Dumka).
