COVID Warriors: Laboratory Technicians stage protest outside NHM, Guwahati

At a time when they were the most needed to fight against the Covid19 pandemic, now as the number of coronavirus cases has decreased, the laboratory technicians are being fired from their jobs.

Since the starting of the Corona pandemic, the health department was at the forefront in the war and all these laboratory technicians were comrades-in-arms.

During the COVID pandemic, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma assured that the job would be declared permanent after three months.

Following his words, some people even resigned from their previous jobs and joined as laboratory technician as they thought the job would be permanent after 3 months.

But now Dr. Lakshmanan S, Mission Director of National Health Mission, Assam announced in a letter to all the District Health Society/Deputy commissioner and Chairperson/The principal secretary that "It has been decided to discontinue and release all remaining temporary HR engaged for Covid19 at both State and District w.e.f 20th November 2020 or from date of discontinuation of their services, whichever is earlier."

Also mentioned that all the HR shall be released with their remuneration for the period of service given temporarily along with an experience or appreciation certificate as possible.

A laboratory technician said, "When nobody came out, we came forward to fight against the Covid pandemic. Himanta Biswa Sarma said, he would regularise our jobs after 3 months. We always work above our given target but today we are being fired".