CHENNAI: Two reproductive and child health sanitary (RCHS) workers in Cheyyar health unit district have received orders appointing them as multi purpose workers (MPWs), following a report published by TNIE on November 13 about the delay of over two years in appointing RCHS workers, who work for a paltry salary of Rs 1,500 per month, as MPWs.
Besides highlighting the delay, the report, “Two years on, 500 health workers await promotion, hike”, also highlighted bribery allegations at the Cheyyar unit, as some RCHS workers eligible for MPW posts said the district-level health department officials were demanding a bribe of up to Rs 1 lakh for the posting.
According to sources in the health department, the job orders to the two workers were issued within a day of the publication of the report. At the time of publication, senior officials had said they would identify vacancies and issue job orders to RCHS workers. Sources have now confirmed the exercise is under way.
Once appointed as MPWs, based on their eligibility, the RCHS workers will receive a pay of around Rs 13,000 per month, nearly a ten-fold increase.
TNIE had highlighted that around 500 RCHS workers are awaiting appointment as MPWs in primary health centres (PHCs) despite being eligible, as per a GO issued two years ago.