Rs 28 cr sanctioned to pay salaries of lab techs

Officials from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said these lab technicians, who were recruited through the Medical Services Recruitment Board, would be absorbed for service in Primary Health Centers across the State to fill the regular vacancies.

Usually, lab technicians are recruited through the Hospital on Wheels Programme. However, these candidates would be absorbed in regular time scale vacancies in PHCs after the completion of two years of service with consolidated pay of Rs 8,000 per month as and when the vacancies arise. If there are no vacancies, the candidates would continue to remain on a monthly pay of Rs 8,000.

Officials said that it was difficult to claim the consolidated salaries per month for two years due to audit related issues and new software used for the process. So they asked for specific fund to pay the salaries of the 1,508 laboratory technicians who are to be appointed in the available vacancies for the smooth running of the laboratories.

The State government has sanctioned Rs 28.95 crore for the consolidated pay of the candidates. An additional amount of about Rs 10 crore has been released for the 2020-21 financial year, while the balance amount would be released as and when the need arises.