Latest news with #AshwaniMunjal
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
PGI medical technicians receive arrears after legal battle spanning decades
Chandigarh: After a long legal battle spanning 32 years, over 2,000 serving and retired medical technicians of PGI are finally set to receive their long-awaited arrears, totalling around Rs 100 crore. The finance ministry has approved the payment, correcting a significant pay anomaly that plagued their cadre for decades. The PGI administration has issued office orders for restructuring of cadres of technical staff (Lab/X-rays/RT) with retrospective effect from March 1, 1992, in compliance with a 2013 judgment by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The decision follows years of persistent efforts by the PGI Medical Technologists Association, headed by Ashwani Munjal. This addresses a major anomaly. Previously, even after two promotions, medical technologists found themselves stuck in the same pay grade as their entry-level positions. "For instance, a BSc medical technology recruit starting at grade pay Rs 4,200 (pay level 6) would often retire in grade pay Rs 4,600 (pay level 7), with promotions to levels 1 and 2 offering no change in grade pay, and levels 3 and 4 also remaining within a single grade pay of Rs 4,600. This rendered promotions largely meaningless in terms of financial benefit," said Munjal. The journey to this resolution was fraught with legal challenges. "The corrected six-tier cadre restructuring, based on the Dr Prabhakar Committee/cadre restructuring report, will now allow technical staff to progress from grade pay Rs 4,200 up to Rs 7,600 as chief technical officer. This change is expected to benefit around 1,000 serving and 200 retired medical technicians," said Munjal. The financial implications of this decision are estimated at around Rs 100 crore, including the impact on retirement benefits for those who are serving and retired. The next step involves initiating the process of conducting departmental promotion committee (DPC) meetings to formalise promotions under the new structure. A longstanding demand Beneficiaries: Over 2,000 serving and retired medical technicians at PGI Chandigarh Amount Approved: Around Rs 100 crore in arrears Reason: Correction of a pay anomaly that persisted for decades Background & Legal Journey Issue: Promotions did not result in meaningful financial upgrades Example: A BSc recruit starting at grade pay Rs 4,200 often retired at Rs 4,600, despite multiple promotions Legal milestone: 2013: Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) ruled in favor of restructuring 2025: Finance ministry finally approved the payment Key advocate: PGI Medical Technologists Association, led by Ashwani Munjal MSID:: 122281704 413 |
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
2-year sewage problem at PGI canteen worsens with rainfall
1 2 Chandigarh: For the past two years, the non-faculty staff canteen at the lower cafeteria of PGI has been frequently facing sewage overflow, a situation made worse by recent heavy rainfall. Both the kitchen and dining areas are severely affected. Despite repeated assurances of renovation during this period, no action has been taken. "The assurances for renovation during the last two years proved to be false and misleading," said Ashwani Munjal, chairman of the Joint Action Committee, PGI. The poor civil and sanitation services have created unhygienic conditions, posing serious risks of infection to both staff and the hospital environment. Around 2,000 hospital staff regularly visit the canteen for tea, food, and snacks. "We were informed earlier that the canteen contractors working on the top floor at the Association of Resident Doctors' mess dispose of kitchen waste into a drain, which chokes the drainage system. We complained to the hospital administration in 2023 and 2024, but the situation remains unchanged," said Ashwani Munjal, chairman of the Joint Action Committee, PGI. Lt Col Gurvinder Singh Bhatti (retd), superintending hospital engineer at PGI, explained, "There are a few reasons why storm water entered the cafeteria. Firstly, we experienced unprecedented rains recently, which overwhelmed the main storm lines of both PGI and UT. Once UT's storm lines were cleared, PGI's internal storm water dispersed. However, during that time, water flowed into the cafeteria because it's a low-lying area. " He added, "We have a persistent issue with the kitchen waste line behind the cafeteria being blocked. This is due to kitchen waste from the first-floor cafeteria entering that line." Officials confirmed that the cafeteria is currently undergoing renovation. A Delhi-based architect is working on the planning, and the renovation is expected to begin in five to seven months.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
PGI Chandigarh faces severe shortage of hospital attendants, nursing staff
1 2 Chandigarh: The PGI is facing a severe shortage of hospital attendants, with a staggering 62% of sanctioned posts lying vacant. This critical shortfall is forcing patients' relatives to step in and provide essential care, leading to increased overcrowding and significantly compromising patient services, an RTI (Right to Information) query filed by a local resident, Ashwani Munjal, revealed. Out of a total sanctioned strength of 519 hospital attendants across all grades, a massive 62% of these crucial positions remain unfilled. The impact is palpable, leaving admitted patients largely dependent on their family members, who are compelled to stay back at the hospital to tend to their loved ones. "This unfortunate situation not only adds to the already strained hospital crowd but also places an undue burden on the relatives themselves," said a patient's relative. The crisis extends beyond attendants. The RTI further highlights a significant deficit in nursing staff, with 186 posts of senior nursing positions currently vacant. The situation is particularly dire for deputy nursing superintendents: out of 15 sanctioned posts, 6 were vacant until 2023, and an additional 9 became vacant this year, exacerbating the staffing crunch. "The information from deputy director administration and superintending hospital engineer on the subject under RTI application dated April 6, 2024, is still pending or rejected on frivolous grounds," said Ashwani. He said, "The shortage of non-faculty posts in the PGI is badly affecting patient care services and further causing a burden on the existing staff," said Ashwani Munjal, the activist who unearthed these figures. The grant of leaves, including Maternity, Child Care, and Earned Leave, becomes an issue, even causing litigations in the absence of Leave Vacancy Quota." This understaffing means that patients, already vulnerable, are left to bear the brunt of the administrative inefficiency, often having to "do the running around" for their admitted relatives. "I hardly see an attendant who can come and help us with the wheelchair or even for a bedpan. We have been doing this solely by ourselves as we cannot afford to keep a private attendant," said another patient's relative. MSID:: 121889450 413 |
