Kolkata, 24 October (H.S.) : In a landmark decision, West Bengal Health Minister Sharadwata Mukhopadhyay has announced the end of a decades-old tradition of extended Durga Puja holidays in state-run hospitals. Clarifying the new directive, the minister stated that starting next year, no government hospital employee will be granted the customary long leave from Sasthi to Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, a period spanning approximately 10 days.

Speaking on Friday night, the Health Minister strongly emphasized that the health department cannot be equated with other general government departments. He highlighted that healthcare is an essential, emergency service directly linked to human lives. Mukhopadhyay noted that since Independence in 1947, an unwritten tradition had taken root across the state where a festive holiday mood gripped offices and hospitals from Sasthi and continued uninterrupted until Lakshmi Puja. This old practice of taking leaves from Sasthi to Lakshmi Puja must be stopped forever. Whatever tradition has been going on for so long will no longer continue, he asserted. He added that from next year, a special duty roster will be prepared exclusively for the four core days of the festival—Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami.

Enforcing the new system with immediate effect this year, the minister ordered the immediate cancellation of all ongoing leaves, directing absentee staff to report back to duty. He expressed satisfaction that personnel across the board-including medical college teachers, principals, MSVPs (Medical Superintendent cum Vice Principals), non-medical superintendents, and sanitation workers-have already returned to work.

Detailing the newly introduced 'special roster' system for hospital attendance, the minister explained that this arrangement has already been initiated for the four main Puja days this year. Moving forward, the workforce of non-medical staff will be maintained at 50 percent capacity on Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami. However, he made it explicitly clear that doctors and nurses will not be included in this roster system. Medical professionals will be required to remain on duty based strictly on hospital requirements and emergency situations, and their leaves will no longer be pre-approved during the festive period.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh