By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Religious discrimination in government job is not a secret, but what happened in Health & Family Welfare Dept. of Malda district in West Bengal seems just like a broad daylight robbery. A local Muslim youth with Master degree topped computer typing speed test – which was the main criteria for the post of Computer Assistant, but after interview, the candidate who had got lowest rank in the typing test was declared selected for the post.
For the single post of Computer Assistant at the department, the Muslim youth achieved rank first among the listed top 5 after the preliminary Computer speed test. But Chief Medical Officer of Health,Malda district, MrSwapan Kumar Jhariat finally declared the name of a candidate who had got last position in the Computer test.
Admit card of Sahidullah
The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health & secretary, District Health & Family Welfare Samity, Malda issued a notice on 14th January, 2011 to recruit Computer Assistant (one post) & Data Entry operator (17 posts) as contract basicunder the strengthening routine Immunization program. The notice said Salary will be 9110/- per month and preference will be given to the residents of Malda district.
MrSahidullah of Village Kasimnagar under the Kaliachak Police Station of Malda district applied for the post of Computer Assistant.Sahidullah got admit card vide Memo no. 753/A (CA), dt 22.02.2012 and then got a call from CMOH office for typing speed test on 14th March, 2012 at Office of the CMOH.
Sahidullah top in list Sanjib rank last
MdSahidullah gave the Computer speed test along with many other candidates at 1 pm on 14th March and the list of 5 top successful candidates of that test was pasted at 3 pm at the CMOH office. The list shows MdSahidullhaas the topper. But office of CMOH, after the viva, issued final list on 21st March 2012, where Sanjib Kr Das, who had got lowest rank in the preliminary Computer test, was declared selected for the post.
Talking to TCN, Sahidullah said he stood first in computer typing test. He got masters degree from Burdwan University. No other candidate was holding master degree. About experience he said, he has experience of working in health department of state government in temporary basis.
Final list
He also has work experiences in a health programe of UNICEF.He said, he worked in Social mobilization support for polio eradication & strengthening routine Immunization, district coordinator, Malda under the UNICEF Since 22-4-2011 to 31-12-2011. Besides he has also worked as subdivisional facilitator at Community health care management initiative of Panchayet department at Maldasadar subdivision since 22-3-2010 to 21-04-2011 etc.
MdSahidullahhas already complained to district magistrate of Malda& Chief minister of West Bengal. He is preparing now to send complaint to State Minority Commission as soon as possible.
Letter to DM, CM
While Malda has 52% Muslim population, no Muslim candidate has been selected for 16 posts of Compute Assistant and Data Entry Operator.
All Bengal Minority Youth Federation oraganised a protest rally in Malda town on 19th April 2012 and they submitted a memorandum to the District magistrate of Malda about the discrimination of Muslim in a government job in an illegal way. State President of Minority Youth Federation MdKamruzzamantold TCN that, Malda district is one of the Muslim dominated districts, holding Muslim percentage of more than 52. Government should recruit proportionally in the Govt jobs. They recruited 16, but none of them is Muslim. Even a Muslim youth stood rank first, but he was deprived by the government. Mr Kamruzzam also condemned that, CMOH of Malda district maintained SC/ST quota in recruiting 16 persons in health department but did not maintain OBC reservation, even though the state government has already formulated 10% OBC quota for Muslims.