SMCH employees' association presses for 15 point charter of demands

Special Correspondent

Silchar, Oct 2: In order to bring about improvement in the services of medical colleges including Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), All Assam Medical College and Hospital Employees’ Association (AAMCHEA) affiliated to Saudo Asom Karmachari Parishad, has in a memorandum to Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Health and Education, demanded fulfillment of their 15 point charter of demands recently. This is also in the overall interest of the people of Barak Valley and the employees of the SMCH, pointed out Kamrul Hussain Mazumder, president of the Association.

 The memorandum besides highlighting the various grievances of the employees and a number of incomplete works presses for their early resolution. The Association is carrying on its mission for reaching best of medical services to the hundreds of patients, mostly from poor families of this Barak Valley. The Superintendent of the SMCH can hardly exercise his fincial authority and power in order to dispose of the pension papers of the dependents of the deceased employees. This has created serious fincial problem for the families in distress. The Superintendent should be vested with fincial power.

 Often due to some or the other lapses committed idvertently, the employees are subjected to harassment and even physical torture. In one such incident on last September 2, Nepal Suklabaidya became a victim of such highhandedness while in active service. His family with sons and daughters face hardship in the absence of any remedial measure. Besides ensuring safety and security of the employees and in order to stop recurrence of such ugly incident, security measures have to be strengthened and a police picket set up in the premises of the Hospital.

 The magement of the SMCH is dogged by the lack of sufficient medical and paramedical staff as well as employees of all lower grades. The Association hammers for the appointments against all the vacant posts, payment of temporary loan from GPF to those employees who need it and the authorities of the Hospital should be delegated with the power. Considering the problem of health of the employees, arrangement for medical allowance should be made. One of the public demands for restarting the almost defunct Neurology Department should be given priority.

 Another demand for the pre-tal and post-tal care of mother and child, the maternity department has to be accordingly well-equipped to meet the desired requirements. It is also not uncommon to hear about the grievance of lack of medicines in the Hospital and also of safe drinking water. The memorandum draws the attention of the Minister to these pressing needs for their solution. Saiful Uddin Choudhury, general secretary of the Association, also speaks for appointment of the dependents of the employees who have expired in harness or after retirement. The memorandum concludes with the prayer for free test of all diseases for the employees and at the same time improvement in their living quarters, besides promotion of the Grade IV workers according to their seniority and merit.