Team Herald
PANJIM: Social distancing norms were thrown to winds on Monday as hundreds thronged the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) at Bambolim to appear for walk-in-interviews called to fill 85 posts of multi-tasking staff (MTS). Incidentally, GMC also houses critical COVID patients.
The opposition Congress vehemently attacked the BJP-led government for holding interviews in times of pandemic leading to violations of health protocols thereby increasing risk of spread of COVID infection.
The candidates, who gathered in large numbers, flouted social distancing norms as well as many, were seen without masks. A mad rush was reported at GMC complex since early morning with probable candidates queuing up for the walk-in-interview, which was scheduled from 10 am onwards.
The security at GMC also failed to control the increasing crowd.
The situation might reoccur on October 8, as GMC has scheduled interviews to fill 90 posts of staff nurses on contractual basis, initially for a period of six months.
GMC has advertised a total 226 contractual posts that includes staff nurses (90), MTS (85), Anesthesia Assistant (30), junior technician (10), biomedical engineer (6) and lower division clerk (5). The walk-in-interviews are scheduled on October 8, 12 and 14.
The Government came under sharp criticism from opposition. “The defective BJP government under Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant puts thousands of young lives under COVID risk by calling them all together for interview at GMC. Shame on Health Minister Vishwajit Rane,” Congress president Girish Chodankar tweeted with the pictures.
“This is how BJP government is taking precautions for COVID-19. This is happening the very next day after two doctors of GMC got re-infected to the infection”, Congress spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar said in a post on social media.
