08 February,2011 06:32 AM IST | | Priyanka Vora
Attendants at the civic-run hospital are allegedly bribing officials to provide them with bogus attendance while they bunk work
The mystery of the missing attendants at KEM hospital seems to have been revealed.
MiD DAY discovered that the reason why relatives' kin often have to perform the duties of a ward boy at these hospitals is the widespread corruption where the concerned employees come, make their presence known by signing the muster and then disappear without a trace.
Sources allege that ward boys make their presence felt by signing the muster and then simply vanishing but not before pocketing all the benefits
The fact came to light after the civic-run KEM hospital's administrative office received complaints from staffers about the continuous absence of ward boys, sweepers and attendants who belong to the class IV employee category.
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It was revealed that approximately 100 ward boys draw a salary, without even lifting a finger.
Sources said that nearly 132 employees including ward boys, barbers, sweepers come to the time keeping department and sign in the muster.
After which the officer in-charge of assigning duties, in this case Ramesh Sosa, assigns the employees their respective duties but instead of reporting for duty, certain employees vanish.
Smells fishy
When concerned authorities caught a whiff of something fishy, they sought a clarification from the time-keeping department, which is responsible for the attendance and duties of the class IV employees.
Probing further, it was revealed that many ward boys and Sosa were working hand in glove where Sosa signed on behalf of several ward boys, who never turned up for work.
In the document (MiD DAY has a copy), it clearly states, "After complaints received by the administrative office, an inspection showed that bogus attendance was being carried out."
The document further revealed that many ward boys remained absent but enjoyed the benefits for double duty as Sosa marked their attendance.
However, it is not just the patients who suffer when ward boys are not present.
Commenting on the shortage of ward boys at the hospital, a senior doctor said, "It is a Herculean task to find a ward boy.
We keep calling for ward boys and the only answer we get is that they are experiencing a staff crunch and everyone is busy.
This creates a lot of trouble for doctors and patients have to suffer because the ward boys are nowhere to be found. Whenever the matter is raised, they mention the union."
Strict action
However, this time the union too is not taking the allegations lightly. The union has demanded strict action against the alleged corruption.
Sunil Chitnis, Municipal Karmachari Kamgar Sena has written a letter (MiD DAY possesses a copy) to the Dean demanding strict action against Sosa.
He said, "Everyone wants to work in the first shift (7 am to 3 pm) and hence they bribe the officials in the time keeping department for this duty.
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The union person should first complete eight hours duty and then perform all tasks related to the union. This is not just the case with KEM Hospital; the time keeping department at all civic hospitals are corrupt."
Rs 20,000
The approximate salary a ward boy draws every month
Cracking the whip
Recently, the KEM Hospital authorities cracked a whip on the nursing staff as around 50 nurses were absconding for a period extending up to one year. Dr Oak said, "Initially, the nurses asked for leave, which were sanctioned by the department but once the sanctioned leave period was over they did not report back for duty. Even after several repeated reminders to join the service many did not pay heed." Taking action, the hospital had removed 12 absconding nurses.
The Other Side
Dr Sanjay Oak, dean of KEM hospital, said, "There is no substance in the matter and there must be a reason behind it. I will look into the matter at the earliest."Refuting all allegations made against him, Ramesh Sosa said, "I have recently been promoted to the time keeping department and I work honestly and follow the rules to the tee. Some people do not like my strict way of working. Once I assign the work to the ward boy, I do not know where he goes; only when the doctor or sister in-charge complains about it, I mark them absent. There is no truth in these accusations and I have given double duty only when there is a shortage of the employees."
