Jharkhand Health Services Association gears up for new committee polls to be held tomorrow

The deck is set for the election of Jharkhand Health Services Association’s (JHSA) new committee for 2022-24 sessions tomorrow (August 21).

The election was scheduled on August 7 but due to the deputation of doctors of different districts including chief election officer Dr Lal Majhi at the month-long Deoghar Shravani Mela, it was rescheduled for August 21.

The poll would be held for 11 posts including president, one vice-president (from Santhal Pargana Division), secretary and convener as 7 vice-presidents, 7 joint secretaries and  treasurer have been elected unanimously.

Four candidates are in the race for president post Dr Sahir Pall  (civil surgeon of East Singhbhum) Dr Mohan Paswan (RCHO Sahebganj), Dr Padam Prakash Sah (Sadar hospital Khunti) and Dr Shankar Lal Murmu (Medical Officer Deoghar).

This is the first election being held for the post of president in 22 years. So far, right from the first JHSA president Dr Sumant Mishra to outgoing Dr Marshal Aind, all were elected unanimously.

Generally, the director-in-chief of health was chosen as the president unanimously but the present director in-chief Dr Krishna Kumar refused to take the responsibility.

In the 2019 election, though Dr Sahir Pal of Jamshedpur put up his claim, he withdrew from the race at the last moment against Dr Aind after JHSA members reportedly assured him support for the president post in the next election.

Three candidates are contesting for the post of secretary which include Dr Mritunjay Kumar Singh ( medical officer Pakur), Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh (medical officer Chas, Bokaro) and Dr Sidheshwar Baskey (medical officer CHC Silli Ranchi).

For one post of convener, Dr Md Shamim Akhtar, medical officer CHC Gola,  Ramgarh and Dr Krishna Murari Singh of Ranchi are in  direct contest.

The election would be also held for one vice-president seat from Santhal Pargana division where Dr Rajiv Kumar, medical officer of Deoghar sadar hospital and Dr Amit Thakur , medical officer of  Pakur are in the race.

Seven vice-presidents including Dr Sharda Kumar (dental wing), Dr Meeta Sinha (female wing), Dr Alok Ranjan Mahto (Kolhan seat), Dr Amrendra Prasad (Ranchi headquarter seat), Dr Tanushree Chakraborty (North Chhotanagpur sea) and Dr Santosh Prasad (Palamu Division seat) have been elected unopposed.

Seven joint secretaries including Dr Vikash Kumar Gupta (headquarter Ranchi), Dr Dinesh Chandra Swaiyan (Kolhan), Dr Basudha (S Chhotanagpur), Dr Rahul Kumar (N Chhotanagpur), Dr Suresh Kumar Ram (Palamu division), Dr Ehtesham Uddin (Santhal ) and Dr Niket Choudhary (Dental seat) have been elected unopposed.

Dr Stephen Xess of Ranchi has been elected the treasurer unopposed.