SHILLONG: The Nongur Weilyngkut Primary Health Centre (PHC) in East Khasi Hills has been locked by the landowners in protest against the Health Department’s decision to terminate the service of one of their family members, who was employed at the centre.
According to the landowners, the family had donated the land for the construction of the PHC on the condition that two of their members would be provided employment. However, the department allegedly violated the agreement by terminating the service of Aidolin Jana, who had been serving as a chowkidar at the facility more than 7 years.
Speaking to reporters, Kdtor Jana, a member of the family, said the agreement was signed on June 21, 2017, prior to the inauguration of the PHC. He alleged that the department had breached the terms by replacing his sister with another person without justification.
Aidolin Jana stated that she received her termination letter in June this year without any valid reason. She said the family decided to lock the PHC as a mark of protest until the government reinstates her service.
The family has also asked the staff and patients to vacate the premises and announced that the PHC will remain closed until their demand is met.
The Nongur Weilyngkut PHC caters to 23 villages, and around a hundred people reportedly visit the centre daily for treatment. The closure of the facility is expected to cause significant inconvenience to the local population.
