Appointments, transfers being done through counselling to curb corruption: Siddaramaiah

Transfers are being done strictly through counselling in the Health Department to curb corruption in appointments and transfers, which is a key objective of the government, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking at the programme, Abhaya Hasta, organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare to distribute appointment letters to newly-recruited candidates, he warned newly appointed candidates against approaching anyone for transfers and cautioned them about growing menace of transfer agents.

1,000 candidates

“All these recruitments are being done through counselling. The government’s objective is to eliminate corruption,” he said, underlining the government’s stand on transparency in appointments. About 1,000 candidates received appointment letters and joined the department.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah giving away the appointment letter to a candidate at the Abhaya Hasta programme in Bengaluru on Saturday
| Photo Credit:
PTI

“ We have carried out around 5,700 transfers, including doctors. Likewise, these new appointments have been made through counselling so that corruption does not take place in transfers and recruitments,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah warned, “Transfer agents demand money. No one should engage in such practices hereafter”.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said there is a proposal to appoint 700 students, who would receive a stipend of ₹8,000, which would be a first for the country. He said that within the next two months, 220 specialists will be appointed so that super-speciality services are available in government hospitals.

Recruitment board

Mr. Rao said that considering the vastness and scope of the Health Department, he had put forward a proposal before the Chief Minister to constitute a separate recruitment board for it.

As many as 1,400 MBBS doctors were currently working under compulsory rural service and and there is a proposal to make it mandatory to PG students too, said Mr. Rao.