At a time the state government is planning to use the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) as the main centre to fight the novel coronavirus, laboratory technicians at RIMS, who can play a vital role in detection of the bias, are demoralised.

They have alleged bias against them on the part of the RIMS management.

One of the lab technicians said: “An advertisement was published in March 2019 for appointment of 157 employees for RIMS. After the advertisement, interview and examination was conducted. The result was published on January 27, 2020. Baring the result for 18 candidates required to work as operation theatre attendants, the result for 139 seats was declared. Out of the 139, 33 were lab technicians. Out of the 33 selected, 14 are Schedule Tribe.”

He added that ironically none of the lab technicians were given appointment letters, while the other 106 were given.

“In this situation, those selected for the job as a regular employee are working on a consolidated salary of Rs 7,000 as contract workers. That consolidated salary has also not been given for the last four months. Apart from this, we do not have any personal protective equipment,” the lab technician said.

A junior doctor with RIMS said the grievance is justified.

“Medical and para-medical staff are being given salary of one month extra. The Odisha government is doing fresh recruitments and providing salary of four months in advance. The Kerala government soon after the pandemic struck, appointed 276 doctors from the waiting list and here a selected technician is being asked to work on contract,” the junior doctor said.

Kanke MLA Samri Lal, who is in the government body of RIMS, supported the technician. “This is a time of crisis. In this situation, the government should not ignore skilled hands. I will look into the matter,” said the BJP MLA.

Health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni suggested talking to RIMS director D.K. Singh on the matter. Singh, however, did not take calls when contacted for comment around 3.58pm, 4.02pm and 4.14pm.

RIMS dean Manju Gadi, who played an important role in the selections, said: “This is not a situation to take any decision on this.”