Pondy adm considering extra wages to attract doctors

Pondicherry, Aug 1: The Pondicherry administration is considering the provision of providing extra wages to attract doctors particularly specialists to work in Karaikal, Health Minister E Valsaraj told the Legislative Assembly today.

Answering a question, Mr Valsaraj said eight posts of senior specialists were vacant in Karaikal General Hospital and efforts were on to fill up the posts through UPSC.

Refuting the reply of Minister, Mr V K Ganapthy pointed out that as on date nine posts of senior specialists besides several technical posts were vacant. Altogether over 100 posts could be vacant and in such a situation there was nothing wrong in the claim that Karaikal region was being neglected by the government, he said.

All legislators from Karaikal joined Mr Ganapathy on the issue and demanded that the government should take steps to immediately fill the vacant post.

Mr Valsaraj said the government had no power to appoint specialists and it should be done through the UPSC only.

The members then pointed out that the UPSC recruits were remaining in Karaikal for just one or two months and to ensure their stay in the region, the government should announce extra wages. Mr Valsaraj said it was under the consideration of the government.

Intervening Mr Valsaraj, Chief Minister N Rangaswamy said the administration would take steps to fill vacant posts in Karaikal by appointing doctors on contrct basis.

UNI