The Meghalaya government has approved regularization of the services of over 221 bonded nurses and paramedics appointed between 2008 and 2012.

Announcing this decision after chairing a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “After detailed discussions with the health department and the bonded nurses, the cabinet has decided to recognize the appointments made during that period. Appointments were made during that period and procedures were followed, and hence, the cabinet today decided that the 221 bonded nurses and bonded paramedics who were appointed between 2008-2012, we have decided to confirm those appointments that were made and recognized them.”

“So basically, recruitment for those posts will not be done as we have already approved and recognized the appointments made during that particular period purely for bonded nurses and bonded paramedics,” he added.

The chief minister said that adhoc employees are employees who are appointed against sanctioned posts but the normal recruitment process was not followed and they were simply appointed adding the government had taken a blanket decision to advertise posts of adhoc employees appointed post-2007 to ensure fairness and transparency.

However, Sangma noted that the case of bonded nurses and paramedics was different. “When we went deeper into the system, we realised that the bonded nurses, the selection process even when they went for the education, the selection was done and based on that a bond was signed and based on that appointments were given,” he said.

Sangma emphasized that the bonded nurses and paramedics had undergone a selection process and had signed a bond, which was a legal agreement.

“When we saw that part of the bond being there and the fact that there was a legal kind of agreement was put which was again abolished by 2013, we took a conscious decision that since these were bonds and appointments were made, we will recognize those appointments and we will allow them to continue to work,” he said.