Mysuru: What might be shocking to some, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has just four health inspectors to look after 65 wards. The government has been delaying appointing health inspectors whose job includes educating masses about cleanliness and ensuring sanitation in its limits. Health inspectors also play an important role in inspecting work of pourakarmikas.
For the past nearly two years, MCC is working with just four health inspectors. Due to shortage of health inspectors, various works are getting delayed. Of the total 53 sanctioned health inspector posts, only four are filled up at MCC. In recent times, more number of dengue cases is being reported from Mysuru. The drastic increase in more number of dengue cases in Mysuru is also due to shortage of health inspectors. Health inspectors play a crucial role in reducing the number of communicable diseases in the city.
In keeping city neat and clean, the health inspectors play an important role. Beginning from looking at the source of elimination, conducting surveys on places where a large number of cases are reported and identifying worse affected areas by doing field work, ensuring that fogging and spraying is done, solid waste management, issuing trade licenses, they also have the responsibility of implementing various Central and State government health programs. The health inspectors are entrusted with several responsibilities. Due to lack of these health inspectors, the work is getting hampered in the city. Usually, each health inspectors look after one or two wards, but in MCC, each health inspector is looking after more than six wards which is hampering the quality of work across the city. If the corporation fails to address the problem at the earliest, it will be difficult for Mysuru to retain the cleanest city tag for the third consecutive year.
R Chandraprakash, former President of Mysore Grahakara Parishat said, “It is very dangerous. The health department has to deal with various departments. How much work can these four health inspectors do? It is dangerous and unfortunate. Government should be more responsible to this section. It’s not only in corporation, but also in other departments. Many departments work for name sake”.
Jagadish, Corporation Commissioner said, “No doubt, there is shortage of health inspectors in the corporation. Few days back when Urban and Development Minister Rohsan Baig visited the corporation, we brought this issue to his notice. The minister assured to look into our issues and recruit health inspectors at the earliest”.
