THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, March 5: Pharmacists, lab technicians, ANMs, GNMs and other paramedical staff in Palamu district could not celebrate Holi this year due to non-payment of salaries for the last four months, triggering distress among government health workers.
Staff Face Financial Distress
A pharmacist, Satender Kumar, said he is under severe financial strain after undergoing hip replacement surgery in Delhi.
“I had to take a huge loan from my acquaintances for the surgery. Now they are asking for the money back that they gave me during my most critical hours,” he said.
According to him, the surgery and related expenses cost nearly ₹5 lakh.
“Tell me from where I will bring the money. Had we been paid our salaries regularly, this financial trauma would not have gripped me,” he added.
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Civil Surgeon’s Gesture of Solidarity
Amid the salary crisis, Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Srivastava made a rare gesture by declaring that he would abstain from celebrating Holi in solidarity with the affected staff.
In a one-page note in Hindi, he said he would not celebrate the festival as a mark of sharing the pain of the staff and paramedics who have not received their salaries.
“They are like my extended family members,” he said.
‘Technical Glitches’ Behind Delay
When asked whether the delay was due to official red-tapism or administrative inefficiency, the civil surgeon said technical glitches caused the issue.
“I worked very hard for their salary. There are some technical glitches which are beyond my capacity,” he said.
Dr Srivastava added that he is still trying to ensure that the pending payments are released.