Over 5,000 youths gets job in 'appointment mela' in Assam

Guwahati, Mar 9 (UNI) In perhaps the first 'appointment mela' by a state government in the country, more than 5,000 appointment letters were issued in the Health department in Assam today.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi handed over the appointment letters to the selected candidates at the mela at the Judges Field here.

The appointments were given under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), with state Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma informing that another 1,500 appointments will be made next month.

The new appointments include MBBS and Ayurvedic doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and other workers under the NRHM and are solely for rural areas.

Mr Gogoi, addressing the gathering on the occasion, said, ''Health has always received priority under our government. We are committed to provide quality health service in the urban as well as rural areas.'' He also lauded the Health Minister and his team for their initiatives in making NHRM a success in the state.

Dr Sharma, appealing to the newly appointed persons to work with dedication, said, ''All selections have been on merit basis. Our aim is to provide medical facilities to all.'' He further said though the appointments had helped in giving employment to a large number of youths, the government's main aim under the NHRM was not employment but quality health service.

The health department welcomes only those who have the zeal to serve, the Health Minister added.

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