A startling case of administrative negligence came to light at Swasthya Bhawan on Thursday after a surprise inspection by Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee, who discovered thousands of unopened letters and official documents lying unattended for years. During his visit to the receiving and dispatch section on the ground floor, the minister found heaps of letters and applications stacked in corners and beside tables, many covered in dust. The correspondence ranged from public grievances to official communications from government departments, some dating back nearly a decade.
Sources revealed that the situation had persisted for years without intervention. The minister personally examined several bundles and found important documents that had never been opened or reviewed. Among them was an official letter sent in 2018 by the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of Berhampore.
Expressing strong displeasure, Mukherjee said, “There are letters here dating back to 2016 and 2018. Important government correspondence has remained unopened. This is unacceptable.” He further noted that staff members indicated the presence of even older documents gathering dust.
Demanding accountability, the minister summoned the officer in charge of the section and questioned the gross mismanagement. He directed that all pending letters be opened immediately and processed without delay.
Reiterating the Chief Minister’s directives, Mukherjee emphasised that every incoming letter must be acknowledged and responded to promptly. “Those who sent these letters may have lost hope by now, but the administration will act seriously from this point onward,” he stated.
The minister also instructed officials to recruit additional staff if manpower shortages were contributing to the backlog. Following his directives, the department initiated the sorting of the accumulated letters with immediate effect, treating the task with urgency.
The incident has raised serious concerns about administrative efficiency and accountability within the health department.
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