If one were to list down the instances where the Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra government absolutely bungled its handling of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, one would end up writing a book. In yet another instance, which further highlights how the people in power in Maharashtra have absolutely no idea what they are doing, the Uddhav government allegedly fired around 25% state’s contractual health workers thinking that the pandemic is over. Now, Maharashtra is crippled as it faces an acute shortage of health workers as the Chinese virus continues to spread its deadly wings across the state at a rapid pace.
In January, the Maharashtra government in all its infinite wisdom, reportedly sought it prudent to fire around 10,000 contractual staff from hospitals across the state as the cases of the Wuhan coronavirus were on a decline. The workers were working as doctors, nurses, ward boys, lab technician and multipurpose workers at jumbo Covid centres and health facilities.
Back then, Pramod Kate, president of Corona Yodha Karamchari Parishad had said, “We came to work as the chief minister had made an appeal for people to come forward and help. At that time, permanent staff at the hospitals were not turning up for their work, but we didn’t care for our families and worked with Covid patients. What we are getting in return is one day notice before termination. We demand the government to reinstate us and give permanent jobs.”
Pooja Doiphode, who worked with BMC’s E ward as MPW, said, “When we joined, we had put our families at risk. Many of us also tested positive for Covid-19. We worked at a time when nobody was ready to come out of their houses. We spent hours in PPE kits and moved Covid positive bodies. We deserve a dignified treatment rather than asked to leave when requirement is over.”
What’s worse is the fact that their termination made them ineligible for the vaccination drive that was to begin for the frontline workers despite serving the state and the nation during the peak of the first wave of the Chinese virus.
Now, at a time, when Maharashtra is firmly gripped with the second wave of the Wuhan coronavirus, the state is now facing an acute shortage of medical staff.
Earlier this month, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan while raising an alarm with the Maharashtra government over its unsatisfactory performance in a letter informed, “Acute shortage of healthcare workforce has been reported by the teams from Aurangabad, Nandurabar, Yawatmal, Satara, Palghar, Jalgaon, Jalna Districts.”
It is safe to say that had the contractual workers not been fired in January, the state’s medical facilities would be less stressed. The people of Maharashtra continue to pay for the gross incompetence of the Uddhav government.
