Srinagar: Beyond tall claims of Health Minister Choudhary Lal Singh to streamline the functioning of the health department, clerical staff in Directorate health Services Kashmir has overstayed at their choice postings for decades.
And on the other hand the transfers of doctors and other staff under political pressure or political patronage have become fairly routine in this department.
The official sources revealed that nearly half a dozen employees have been untouched and some of them have evaded any transfer from their joining.
Sources informed KNS that one head Assistant has been working for the last more than one decade and was untouched.
Another senior steno is the beneficiary of transfer industry and has been enjoying stay for the last 10 years.
Moreover, another, Senior Assistant in Gazetted Section, has also been overstaying for the last more than one decade and remained untouched during transfers, due to reasons best known to authorities.
Sources said that there are several other officials who have not been transferred from last so many years.
It seems that the claims of Health Minister to streamline the functioning of department are restricted to words only but there is not an iota of change, sources said.
Moreover sources said that Transfers of doctors under political pressure or political patronage have become fairly routine in the Directorate health department.
“Though it is in every state but here, it has become nothing less than a booming industry, within the last few months, several doctors have been handed the transfer orders. It began as a trickle soon after the Lal Singh assumed his office.  I can say that it has turned into an avalanche, which has paralyzed almost the entire health sector in the valley,” one of the employee wished anonymity said.
Sources said that the arbitrary transfers have caused gross distortions in the staffing patterns of hospitals. (KNS)