(m). 13th Posting - DS, Health & FW Department

I stated in describing my tenure in Rajbhawan  that  I had gone on leave from there with effect from the twenty-fourth of January 1992 in an unusual situation. On the expiry of said leave, I joined as Deputy Secretary to the Govt. in the Health & Family Welfare Department on the first of February, 1992. I worked in the Health & Family Welfare Department upto April 1, 1993.

As the Deputy Secretary to the Government of West Bengal in the Health Department, I looked after the Medical Services Branch,  My job included involvement in forming State Policy for the District and the Sub-divisional hospitals, rural health centres, etc., and the infrastructure development for these units. I also had to liaison with other departments on these matters and obtain financial sanctions wherever required. The Govt. took an epoch-making decision to introduce charges for radio imaging and similar services in government hospitals during my tenure. The OPD tickets in the government hospitals were, for the first time, also priced, though at a nominal amount of ₹ 0.50. It was the first time in the history of the health care system of the State that the government introduced such charges.

During my stay in this department, I was promoted to the IAS in 1992 and posted to Krishnanagore as the Additional Executive Officer,  Nadia Zilla Parishad. I had to forego this promotion, as I had a problem leaving Calcutta for the new assignment. The Govt was also unwilling to consider my representation for posting me in a district nearby Calcutta where  I could commute from home. In deciding on these postings on promotion, the Govt. did not follow any clear-cut policy: the decisions were arbitrary and, in some cases, on political considerations. I entered the IAS much later. The facts are available on the sub-page History of my entry to IAS of this website.