Dehradun: Medical lab technologists from across the state continued their agitation at the Ekta Vihar protest site in Dehradun for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, seeking regular recruitment in the health department and opposing privatisation of government laboratories.
The indefinite protest, organised under the banner of the Unemployed Medical Lab Technologists Association, demands the creation of lab technician posts in line with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms. These norms require government health facilities to maintain a minimum number of lab technicians based on hospital category and bed strength.
Protesters are also seeking recruitment based on year-wise merit, claiming that no regular recruitment for degree-holder lab technicians has occurred in the medical health department over the past 26 years. They demand the formulation of a separate service rulebook for lab technicians and a one-time age relaxation for candidates who have exceeded the upper age limit of 42 years.
"Many candidates have crossed the upper age limit of 42. We demand a one-time age relaxation for such aspirants," said Ranbeer Singh Bisht, state vice-president of the association.
Members also opposed the privatisation of government laboratories, alleging that it increases unemployment and adversely affects the future of youth seeking jobs in the sector. Ashish Khali, state president of the association, said medical lab technicians in the state have been neglected for years.
"BSc MLT courses have been running here since 1995. In 2009, around 150 candidates were admitted after an agitation, and the grade pay for lab technicians was raised from Rs 2,800 to Rs 4,200 in 2010. We have been demanding recruitment in accordance with IPHS norms for more than two decades, but whenever some progress is expected, the governments and secretaries change and we go back to square one," he said.
Khali said the association held a meeting with health minister Subodh Uniyal last week. "He told us he would seek a briefing from the officials concerned," he said. Protesters have warned that the agitation will continue until a positive decision is taken on their demands.
