Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah Saturday said transfers and appointments in key govt departments are being carried out strictly through counselling to curb corruption and eliminate the growing menace of middlemen. Speaking after handing out appointment letters to about 1,000 new recruits in the health and family welfare department here, Siddaramaiah said the govt had conducted nearly 5,700 transfers, including those of doctors, through counselling to prevent malpractice. “These new appointments have also been made through counselling so that corruption does not take place,” he said. The CM cautioned new recruits against using intermediaries. “Do not go to anyone for transfers. Agents have started operating and they demand money, even trying to route payments to officials. Such practices must stop,” he warned. Stating that there are more than 2.5 lakh vacant posts across govt departments, Siddaramaiah said they would be filled in phases, with priority for education, health and police. He also underlined the public service mandate of the health sector. “There is no place for caste or religion here—only humanity. These are not just jobs but responsibilities towards public service,” he said. Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said a proposal had been submitted to constitute a separate recruitment board for the health department, citing its size and scope. He said the govt was considering appointing 700 students with a monthly stipend of Rs 8,000, calling it a first-of-its-kind initiative. Within two months, 220 specialists would be appointed to strengthen super-speciality services in govt hospitals, he said. Gundu Rao said around 1,400 MBBS doctors were currently serving under compulsory rural service and a proposal was under consideration to extend the requirement to postgraduate students.
