TMB Report
Imphal: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has informed the House that action will be initiated against the striking doctors under relevant
provisions of Essential Service Act.
The Chief Minister while replying to a policy cut raised by Congress MLAs K Ranjit and Th Lokeshwor on the public inconveniences as fallout of the ongoing cease work strike of the doctors stated that in view of the public suffering due to the strike of the doctors, the State Government is considering devising a mechanism or engaging doctors on daily wage basis to reopen the hospitals.
He stated that the government had earlier held talks with the striking doctors about their demands and informed them about the government’s inability to fulfill their demands including extension of service.
He stated that despite the government’s appeals and knowing they are in the essential service category, the doctors have esorted to strike which government views it seriously.
The government has initiated steps to engage doctors on daily wage basis to reopen the hospitals to settle the public suffering, the Chief Minister stated, announcing that legal action will be initiated against the striking doctors under the Essential Service Act.
Health Minister Dr Sapan Ranjan assured that the government will make effort to increase the amount of daily wages of the staff of the
JNIMS hospital.
Clarifying to a policy cut motion raised by Opposition MLA K Ranjit in the demand of Medical, Health & Family Welfare Department, the Health Minister stated that the daily wages amount given to the JNIMD staffs is quite low which is not commensurate to the present time. He stated that the government has started process to increase the daily wages of the staffs.
When the Opposition MLA alleged of procuring sub standard chairs of JNIMS Dental College, the Minister assured that he will personally visit the college to inspect the infrastructures and proper action will be taken if the allegations are proven true.
He also assured that pending bills of Covid related works will be cleared by this financial year.
Raising a policy cut, MLA Ranjit stated that JNIMS is currently run by around 300 contractual staffs with low daily wages with staffs getting Rs. 225-Rs.250 per day which is the lowest.
He stated that JNIMS is one of the most important medical institutes in the State and as such, wages of the staffs need to be increased.
He also urged the government to settle the cease work strike of the doctors. The Opposition MLA also urged the government to maintain proper biomedical waste management.
On food safety, the MLA questioned whether the Food safety staffs are properly checking the food value of the ice packed fish imported from
outside the State, including Myanmar.
Alleging that Food safety staffs are not seen checking food value of the items imported, the opposition MLA questioned whether the Health
department is indirectly involved in causing health hazard to the people.
