SHILLONG, AUG 23: Armed with placards and banners, over 40 members of the All Meghalaya Malaria Programme Workers’ Association (AMMPWA) on Tuesday staged indefinite hunger strike to protest against the state government’s failure to absorb them into regular posts.
The centre had instructed all the states to absorb them but them but the state government failed to comply.
The 40 malaria workers sat on the roadside near the DHS complex at Laitumkhrah after the deputy commissioner refused permission for holding the fast protest.
On August 3, over hundred MPWs from across Khasi, Jaintia and Garo hills had staged similar three-day hunger strike protest inside the premises of the Deputy Director of Health Services (IM) located at Lawmali, Polo.
“We are compelled to go ahead with the indefinite hunger strike after the state government failed to pay heed to our demand,” AMMPWA president Jedwin Lyngdoh told reporters.
He said despite the centre clear instruction that MPWs should be absorbed in the government health departments on expiry of the programme, there has been no action from the state government on this regard.
Stating that the cases of malaria in Meghalaya is increasing ever since the termination of the MPWs, Lyngdoh said, “The inaction of the state government only shows that it is not concern at all about the interest and health of the people of the state.”
For improvement of surveillance and effective implementation of Vector Borne Disease Programme, the centre had allotted contractual MPWs (male) to 17 states which include Meghalaya which are placed at high malaria endemic areas after approval of EPC for 11th plan.
The other states include – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura which are from the NE region while Andra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odissa, Karnataka, Maharastra, West Bengal, Bihar) and Rajasthan falling under World Bank States.
As per letter dated November 25, 2013 to the 17 states, Dr GS Sonal, Additonal Director, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) (Directorate General of Health Services), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had stated – “One of the condition of sanction of contractual MPW (male) was that state will fill up the vacant post of regular MPW male so that these contractual MPW in subsequent years can be reduced/withdrawn.”
The letter also stated – “However, considering the slow progress in filling of regular post of MPW (male), the support for engaging contractual MPW (male) were extended on yearly basis after 11th plan period for two more years’ up to 31 March, 2014. It is informed that NVBDCP will not give support for these positions beyond March 31, 2014. Accordingly state may, take appropriate action in this regard.”
According to the agitating MPWs, based on the centre’s direction several representations were also submitted and meeting held between them and the state government held, but unfortunately all ended up with fake assurances.
Meanwhile, the State Health Minister AL Hek had earlier maintained that the MPWs are not appointed by the state government, as they are working under a centrally sponsored programme of the Government of India which tends to expire every 11 months. The last contract had expired on March 2014.
“However due to intervention of the state government the centre had agreed to extend the programme till March 2015 and all their dues have already been cleared,” he had stated.
On the other hand, the minister said the state government cannot absorb them at the moment in view of the fact that there is no vacancy available in the department.
According to him, if they still continue with their protest they are doing it in their individual capacity.-By Our Reporter
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