Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jul 13: As the second wave of Covid-19 is showing a declining trend, the authorities at the government medical college Srinagar are mulling to go for summer vacations from 16th July.
A circular issued in this regard by GMC Principal reads that all the Heads of Departments of various disciplines of the Government of Medical College Srinagar are requested to furnish the summer vacations roster for the year 2021 of regular faculty members for both the halves as under and submit the same to this office within a period of (02) days positively from the date of issue of this circular, so that the roster is completed and issued well in time.
However, while preparing the roster, the following guidelines are reiterated for being kept in view: First Half Vacations w.e.f. 16-07-2021 to 29-07-2021. Second Half Vacations w.e.f. 01-08-2021 to 14-08-2021. (30 and 31 July 2021 will be the common working days for all the faculty members and no kind leave whatsoever for these days will be entertained.)
The instructions as per the circular reads that as far as possible equal number of faculty staff in each department will remain present during both the halves of the vacations, so that the work will be carried on smoothly, faculty members on duty during any of the above halves of summer vacations shall not be entitled to attend conference/workshops/seminars etc unless otherwise the same is unavoidable and the alternative arrangements therefore are ensured by the concerned HOD, no faculty members shall be allowed to avail of the vacations in excess in any case, all the faculty members availing of any of the halves of vacations shall join thereafter and no kind of leave whatsoever can be allowed and all the faculty members availing of any of the halves of vacations will record and communicate to the college in their departure reports their mailing address/telephone numbers, besides that next senior faculty member available in the department will provide cover during the absence vacations of HOD, as the case may be and the senior faculty member will act as I/C Head of the Department. If the faculty members of any department have not availed the previous winter vacations due to any reasons credit shall be given in their earned leave account as per rules.
“All the heads of the departments will ensure that teaching programme as well as patient care will not suffer during the period of summer vacations-2021 and the lecturers who joined from January, 2021 onwards either on regular or on academic arrangement basis will remain present during both the halves of summer vacation 2021,” It adds.
However, experts believe that as the second wave of Covid-19 is still going on and allowing senior doctors to go for summer vacation can prove costly.
They said that non- covid patients have been suffering also for the last two years and when senior doctors will go for summer vacation, non- covid patients will suffer more to get treatment.
“If senior doctors will be allowed to go for summer vacation, the entire health sector will rely on juniors , most are students and putting them under pressure can prove costly,” experts said.
“On one hand the government is extending the retirement age of doctors and other paramedical staff by one year but on the other hand allowing senior staff to go for summer holidays seems a contradictory step,” they said.
They requested higher ups of the government to look into the matter at the earliest so that patients won’t suffer.
Principal GMC Srinagar, Dr Samia Rashid said that, “she doesn’t want to comment on the issue.”
On contacting advisor to Lt. Governor RR Bhatnagar, he said that he will check out the details.
“I can’t really comment right now. Let me check and discuss it first,” Bhatnagar said.
