Nurse recruitment anomalies: Govt awaits probe report

SHILLONG: Three years after the anomalies were detected regarding the recruitment of General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM), the inquiry committee is yet to submit the findings to the state government.
The State Health Minister ALK Hek told reporters on Monday that it was a fact that the Directorate of Health Services without the permission of the government directly created 360 posts (180 each for bonded and non-bonded nurses). Hek claimed that the government could not take action against those who were responsible for the anomalies into the recruitment since the report was yet to be submitted.
It was in 2013 that the inquiry committee was formed to examine the anomalies in the recruitment of GNM by the Directorate of Health Services (MI) since the recruitment was carried out by the Directorate   without the approval of the government. The director of the Health Services (MI), however, had retired recently.
Asked about the delay in taking action, Hek said,”We are still waiting for the inquiry to be completed before taking any future course of action.”
Stating there was no direction from the state government to the Directorate of Health Services to create the posts, Hek said the health department could not fill up all the 180 posts for bonded nurses though many were appointed.
As far as non bonded category is concerned, since they could not fulfill certain criteria, they could not be appointed.
The Health Minister, however, assured that necessary action would be taken once the findings of the inquiry committee are placed before the government.