NCST Member reviews RIMS Administration, calls for independent rules
PNS
Ranchi
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) member Dr Asha Lakra on Tuesday directed the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) to strengthen its administrative framework, recruitment process and grievance redressal mechanism during a comprehensive review meeting held in Ranchi.
Dr Lakra observed that although RIMS is an autonomous institution, it has yet to develop its own regulatory framework and continues to rely on the state government for several administrative decisions. She said the institute should frame its own rules to function more efficiently while continuing to receive government support.
Reviewing faculty and staff recruitment, she instructed the RIMS administration to maintain a transparent roster system for appointments of professors, doctors, junior doctors and MBBS graduates. She sought details on whether the prescribed reservation for Scheduled Tribes had been fully implemented and stressed that if an ST candidate is selected on merit under the general category, the reserved ST vacancy should still be filled by another eligible tribal candidate. She also directed that the roster system be maintained online.
The NCST member emphasized the need for regular training of Liaison Officers responsible for implementing reservation policies and called for strengthening capacity-building programmes for administrative staff and newly appointed nurses.
She also recommended the creation of an internal grievance redressal committee with representation from Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Economically Weaker Sections and women to resolve complaints at the institutional level. Quarterly grievance review meetings and six-monthly meetings with the RIMS Director were also proposed.
Dr Lakra further suggested displaying OPD information in Hindi and publishing weekly schedules of specialist doctors in newspapers to improve public access to healthcare information. Later, she also reviewed the functioning of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ranchi with senior officials of both institutions.
