Move to end ?Babucracy?

'BABUCRACY' MAY soon become passe in the Health Department. In a first-of-its kind initiative to end the grip of ministerial staff in the Health Department and its associated units, all the clerks, typists and store keepers posted at the same office, hospital or district for over ten years, are likely to be shifted.

'BABUCRACY' MAY soon become passé in the Health Department. In a first-of-its kind initiative to end the grip of ministerial staff in the Health Department and its associated units, all the clerks, typists and store keepers posted at the same office, hospital or district for over ten years, are likely to be shifted.

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The Health Department is preparing the list of all these staff, which will be sent to the Directorate, Medical and Health Services, UP Government.

Following the High Court's Lucknow Bench direction (in response to writ petition number 8761-SF/OF 2006), Additional Director (Personnel) J Lal has ordered the Health Department to send the list of all the ministerial staff posted at the same place or district for over a period of ten years.

In a letter dated, October 30, 2006, the AD has also asked to send the detailed information of post held by the ministerial staff, his name, date of birth, first appointment date, date of joining on the post, in the district or office.

A similar order has also been issued to the chief medical superintendents of male and female district hospitals, district leprosy, malaria and TB officers and the medical colleges of Agra, Lucknow, Jhansi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Allahabad. The sources in the Health Department informed that barring a few ministerial staff, the transfer axe may fall on all the clerks, store keepers and typists posted at the CMO office, leprosy, TB and Malaria units. "Most of them are working like mafia, dominating the decisions of even Class I officers and eventually harassing the common people. There are about 60 to 70 ministerial staff working under the CMO. Amongst them over 96 per cent, have already completed over ten years working at the same place," said the sources.

When contacted chief medical officer Dr Shantimal Singhavi said following the State Medical and Health Services, Directorate's orders, a list of all the clerical staff, typists and store keepers, posted at one office or district for over ten years, was being prepared. The list would soon be sent to the Directorate, for submission before the High Court. "The decision about the transfer of the ministerial staff will be taken by the high court. I am not aware whether they will be transferred to other districts or shifted/adjusted in the same division," he added.