GH groups points out lapses in MLHP recruitment, seeks action against officials  

Tura, Aug 30: Prominent organizations from Garo Hills on Wednesday pointed out various lapses in the recent MLHP recruitment process and while seeking action against those responsible for the fiasco, has also urged the government to put on hold the whole appointment process to the vacant posts.

Barring any from the Garo community, a total of 41 candidates were recently declared appointed to posts of MLHP in an order issued by the Mission Director. All the appointed candidates were to be posted in different districts of Garo Hills.

Garo organizations including the FKJGP, ADE, AYWO, FAF and the GSU led by Zikku Balgra N Marak dispatched a joint representation to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma pointing out various lapses which amounted to violation of the usual recruitment process.

“We did our due research and found another circular Vide Memo No.DHS/MCH&FW/NHM/MLHP/20/2023(II), dated 11.08.2023 whereby it was instructed that in order to fill up the vacant positions of MLHP at the Health and Wellness Centres the applicants will have to undergo verification of documents and counselling on the 17th August 2023. However, till date we have not been able to find any circular regarding the advertisement for the above mentioned positions (despite our best efforts) which we believe is in clear violation of the existing recruitment procedures laid down by the Govt. of Meghalaya,” the organizations said.

“It was also brought to our knowledge that the Indian Nursing Council has sent a letter to all colleges of Nursing across India vide Letter No. 22-206/CPCH/2019-INC dated 29th May 2019 whereby all B. Sc. Nursing Colleges shall have to integrate the Middle-Level Health Provider (MLHP) course in basic B.Sc. Nursing and Post B. Sc. Nursing curriculum. We have been provided other official letters even from the Secretary, Govt. of India, Department of Health and Family Welfare, NirmanBhawan, New Delhi-110011. However, after thoroughly perusing the letters we did not find any mention of GNM Nurses being ineligible for the posts of MLHP,” the organization added.

Pointing out that GNM and BSC Nursing students had earlier also been recruited to the posts of MLHP in the state, the groups argued that the Mission Director has acted arbitrarily in the recent instance and sought that the official be subjected to official inquiry and reprimanded.

“Despite our best efforts we cannot find the advertisement for the posts of MLHP with regards to the Memo No. DHS/MCH&FW/NHM/MLHP/20/2023/(III) dated 23.08.2023 which clearly indicates that the Mission Director has irresponsibly flouted the appointment guidelines of the Govt. of Meghalaya and acted on his own accord and thus he/she should be held accountable for this unfortunate events which could have easily led to major misunderstanding between the people of the state and thus he/she should be reprimanded for his/her actions accordingly,” the organizations added.

The organizations also claimed that Medical Officials of NHM Meghalaya has been trying to convince after the circular from the INC, the Meghalaya Government was recruiting only those students who had passed B.Sc. Nursing courses post 2022, when on the contrary, the candidates list in the office Memo No. DHS/MCH&FW/NHM/MLHP/20/2023/(II) dated 11.08.2023 showed that candidates who hailed from Bethany GNM Nursing School, which does not offer B.Sc. Nursing courses, were also invited.