Amritsar: In an unusual instance of administrative duty allocation, MBBS doctors posted at govt dispensaries in Amritsar have been assigned ration-card verification work, with the administration now recommending withholding their Sept salaries after they allegedly failed to report for the assignment.A letter from the sub-divisional magistrate, Amritsar-II, to the additional deputy commissioner (rural development), states that 32 ‘employees’ of the rural development department were directed to report at the office for ration-card verification. However, they did not report for the assigned duty, the letter said, adding that their absence indicated that they were “not serious towards their duty”.The SDM recommended that the salaries of all 32 employees for Sept be withheld until further orders. The ADC (rural development) has also been asked to seek their clarification, with the employees required to personally appear before the authorities within two days. The curious part of the order is that the 32 listed employees are MBBS doctors working as Rural Medical Officers at government dispensaries and Mohalla Clinics. The two-page list, however, does not mention the prefix “Dr” before their names. The doctors, who draw salaries of over Rs 1 lakh a month, are now caught between treating patients and checking ration cards — an assignment that has left many wondering whether the govt’s manpower shortage has turned medical professionals into all-purpose administrative staff.When contacted, ADC (general and rural development) Pallavi Mishra said that when they came to know about ‘employees’ being assigned ration card verification duties, they asked them to send replacements from the department, and the matter was resolved.According to sources, some of the doctors had argued that they were already engaged in preparations for the inauguration of 36 new Mohalla Clinics scheduled for Oct 3, while doctors posted at dispensaries were dealing with heavy patient loads. One doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they would meet their department head on Thursday and decide their next course of action after discussing the matter. For now, the episode has raised questions about the deployment of specialised medical manpower for non-medical duties, particularly when government health facilities continue to cater to patients.
