AMTU seeks governor’s intervention

IMPHAL | Aug 31

All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) has submitted a memorandum to the governor of Manipur, requesting for appointing a competent director of Health Services, Manipur on superannuation of the present incumbent.

According to a release, the memorandum stated that the health sector of the state has been afflicted with various controversies and scams in the last many decades. The incompetence and lack of integrity of the administrative heads in health sector have made the people living in the remote hill areas of the state worst affected, it read.

The present director of Health Services, Manipur will be retiring in the month of September and there is a high possibility of the post falling into the corrupt hands on the basis of a flawed seniority list, it added.

In the memorandum, AMTU alleged that the director of Family Welfare Services, Manipur, Dr. K. Rajo Singh, who is in the line for the post on the basis of seniority, has records of scams with pending vigilance case against him for misappropriation of funds under CSS.

His integrity has been called into question several times through media for misuse of huge amounts of funds in the name of renovation and repairing works of various Primary Health Sub-Centres (PHSCs), maintained the memorandum.

It further alleged that the second person in line for the post is additional director of Medical Directorate, Manipur, Dr. H. Ranjit Singh, who also had a controversial case for causing the death of a patient while practising in a private clinic in the year 2007.

AMTU expressed appreciation to the minister of Health and Family Welfare in probing into the irregularities within the family welfare department. AMTU further appreciated the new government of the state for suspending the former Health director, Dr. Okram Ibomcha Singh.

It also mentioned on the policy of increase in the tenure service for government doctors from 60 years to 62 years in the year 2015 through a cabinet decision, which was again increased to 65 years recently. Instead of strictly adhering to the amended rules, there are chances of undue advantages, it added.

There is a strong need of transparency in handling all matters of the state and an impeccable track record is highly required while appointing a person, stated AMTU in the memorandum.