Technocrats aged over 62 years in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, holding key posts, will soon be shifted to non-administrative work. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision of increasing the age of superannuation of non-teaching and public health specialists from 62 to 65 years was aimed at taking advantage of their experience for three more years.
The PM’s vision was profitable for the public. But the Health Ministry has decided to shift their ‘experienced doctors’ to non-administrative positions after they attain 62 years of age.
The Ministry has closely examined the order and the Department of Personnel’s notification published in the Gazette of India dated May 31, 2016, enhancing the age of superannuation of the officers of non-teaching specialists and General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) Sub Cadres of Central Health Services (CHS) from 62 to 65 years. “The matter has been further examined and it has been decided that CHS officers of non-teaching specialist, public health specialist and GDMO sub-cadres of CHS will hold the administrative posts till 62 years, and thereafter, their services would be placed in the non-administrative positions,” Lalit Kumar, Under Secretary to the Government of India stated in a memorandum dated July 19, 2016.
According to the memorandum, the officials will be designated under Sub Cadre as non-teaching specialists, public health specialists and GDMO. Similarly, under the higher administrative grade (HAG) and above, officials will be designated as principal consultant, principal advisor and senior CMO (HAG). Under senior administrative grade (SAG), they will be designated as consultant, advisor and senior CMO (SAG) as per the memorandum.
The decision has caused a feeling of unrest among those officials who are going to attain the age of 62 as early as this year. “Authorities are trying to make their own set of department within the ministry. We will be left with no work if we are shifted to Non Administrative posts. We have given so much to the ministry and public health from our experience but as consultants we will practically be having no work for three years,” said a senior official in the Health Ministry.
“This will also affect the economy of the country as in the non-administrative posts we won’t be able to justify our salaries,” the official said.
In the Ministry, there are over 300 experienced doctors, who will become jobless and work as advisors under their juniors. It will not only break the system, but will develop an anarchy also. This kind of notification is also applicable on teaching specialist since 2012.