AP: Employes working for five years bribe higher officials to avoid transfer

Vijayawada: Following an order issued by The health, medical and family welfare department on January 28 stating to transfer regular employees who have completed five years of service at one facility, by Feb. 28, it has been found that many are bribing either to get transferred or to avoid being transferred in Andhra Pradesh.

It has been made clear that transfers are to be made through online procedure and the competent authority should get the application on transfer by Feb 15. After that, the applications will be examined or processed on or before Feb. 18.

A committee will be formed by top health officials including the director of medical education, commissioner of APVVP, commissioner of family welfare and the director of public health who will conduct a counselling. The allocation of the post and transfer proceedings will be done online. After which, the competent authorities will issue transfer orders.

However, it came to the fore that several medical personnel are trying to bribe the higher officials either to stay or move to a place of their choice. It is learnt that some unions are also deeply involved in the racket.

State health sources alleged that several lakhs of rupees are changing hands in relation to these transfers. The quantum of the amount demanded as bribe depends upon the demand for one or another station to get posting order and also based on the cadre. The health department recently issued a memo to allow office-bearers of recognized service associations for six years to work at a station without any transfer has come in handy to several health staff to avoid transfer.

The memo mentioned that office-bearers like president, secretary, treasurer, associate president, vice president, joint secretary working at state, district and taluk units can avail this facility. The memo listed out 106 recognized associations in the state.

Accordingly, the health staff had been running up to these associations to get letters from them stating that they are their officer-bearers and are eligible to seek exemption from transfer. The association leaders give such a certificate and take hefty amounts as bribe. Though some associations are turning down such requests, several others are tempted to issue such letters by taking money. Such letters are then used to claim an exemption from transfer.

A senior health official told the Deccan Chronicle, "The health department intended to hold the whole exercise of transfer through online mode in a transparent manner. But, a section of health officials and personnel are resorting to the illegal practice of bribing one or the other to get either a transfer order or evade it."

Moreover, as the timing of the transfers is said to be wrong in terms of the education of children etc. Several of the health staff are trying to avoid it by citing one excuse or the other or by paying bribes."