Malda medical college has 342 posts but 4 staffers

MALDA: In a clear violation of the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines, the Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) is operating with only four office employees, instead of 342 prescribed by the MCI. The staff crunch has taken such a proportion that the vice-principal M A Rashid has been given the additional charge of accountant.
Though the MMCH authorities are tight-lipped over the staff shortage, it has been learnt that they are desperately pursuing the matter with the state government, so that the MCI guidelines are met.
MMCH, which began its journey last year, got a severe blow recently with the MCI denying it the renewal of permission for the admission of second batch of MBBS students in the coming academic year. A team of MCI, which visited the college on March 1 and 2 to assess the infrastructure, found it was not up to the mark. In a letter to the principal on May 26, the MCI informed its decision.
After receiving the letter, the college started hectic lobbying with the MCI as 100 students, who had cleared the JEE recently, were waiting for the admission. A team from state health department, including health secretary, and the principal of the college went to New Delhi on June 1 to convince the MCI officials that works are on to improve the infrastructure.
After that, there was a surprise visit by the MCI officials to the college on June 11. On June 26, an e-mail was sent to the college principal by Sanjoy Srivastava, secretary of MCI, approving the recognition for another year.
However the tough times are back with the staff crunch hitting the college again.
MCI had suggested that there should be 342 office employees, apart from teachers, to manage the gigantic task of MMCH. Though, the state had sanctioned only 76 posts in an order issued on February 25, 2011.
However, only four employees including one head clerk, one upper-division clerk and one lower-division clerk were appointed so far. Even the post of the personal secretary to the MMCH principal is lying vacant. Recently, Rashid has been asked to look after the works of the accountant too. However, he has expressed his reluctance to it, sources said.
In order to tackle the crisis, MMCH authorities are taking staffers from other hospitals in the district on a temporary basis. "Even the staffers of Malda district hospitals are being asked to work temporarily here. Some employees have been recruited on daily wage basis," said a senior professor on condition of anonymity.
It has been learnt that principal Uchchhwal Bhadra has already urged the state government to appoint required number of employees in the college. It's anticipated that if the prevalent guideline of MCI is not adhered to, MMCH may again face MCI heat.
Bhadra said: "There's a staff crunch. We're trying to manage it by taking up additional duties. State government has been informed about the vacancies and we hope that the crisis will be over soon." Regarding Rashid's additional charge of accountant, he said, "It's our internal issue. Now, superintendent of Malda district hospital H Ari is helping us with his staffers. The issue will be resolved soon."