VUMLT to Stage Dharnas Demanding Employment for Lab Professionals

Itanagar, India Jul 25, 2026 ALN: [ Bini Yurom ]

ITANAGAR, 24 Jul: The Voice of Unemployed Medical Laboratory Technologists (VUMLT) on Friday announced that it would stage a peaceful dharna on 27 July at the tennis court here, alleging that the state government has failed to address the grievances of unemployed laboratory professionals despite repeated representations and a rally held on 15 July.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Club here, VUMLT chairman Tamchi Tago said the organisation had submitted a memorandum to the government following the 15 July rally, highlighting the grievances of unemployed laboratory professionals. However, he alleged that despite the rally, the government has failed to take timely action or intervene to address their demands, forcing the organisation to once again raise the issue before the public through the media.

Tago said the organisation had placed a four-point charter of demands before the government. The first demand was immediate filling of 192 sanctioned laboratory technician posts through the Staff Selection Board (APSSB). He claimed that the posts had already been sanctioned in 2023, and that the Recruitment Rules (RR), 2024 had been completed, leaving only the issuance of the recruitment notification.

He alleged that, despite repeated memorandums and visits to the offices of the authorities concerned since 2023, the vacancies have not been advertised. He said that the organisation has submitted more than 15 representations, but its demands remain unheard.

The organisation’s second demand is cancellation of the tender awarded to a private company for laboratory services. Tago alleged that the company has expanded its operations across all 26 districts and is replacing regular recruitment with outsourced manpower, thereby depriving qualified young laboratory professionals of employment opportunities. He claimed that professionally qualified laboratory personnel engaged through the agency are receiving salaries of only Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per month, which he said was unjustifiable.

Tago further alleged that the growing privatisation of laboratory services is affecting employment prospects for trained professionals. Referring to a meeting with the health secretary, he said the organisation had been informed that the contract awarded to the private company could not be terminated immediately because it had been awarded through a tender process. Nevertheless, he urged the government to “at least give preference to unemployed local laboratory professionals while engaging technical staff.”

Reiterating the organisation’s third demand, Tago called for abolition of outsourcing and the public-private partnership (PPP) model for laboratory, blood bank and other laboratory services. He argued that while certain non-technical services could be outsourced, technical posts requiring professional qualifications should be filled only through regular government recruitment.

Citing information obtained by the organisation, Tago claimed that 14 technical personnel are currently working at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) through an outsourced agency. According to him, the outsourced workforce comprises seven laboratory technicians, two general laboratory technicians, two MRI technicians, two emergency care and trauma technicians, and one ECG technician.

He alleged that private agencies are recruiting technical personnel without proper qualifications, competitive examinations or transparent selection procedures, and claimed that appointments were being made through recommendations. Questioning the practice, he asked whether technical staff could be outsourced in the same manner as non-technical personnel, alleging that such recruitment violates professional norms and denies deserving candidates equal employment opportunities.

Tago said the organisation had repeatedly approached the Directorate of Health Services, urging the authorities to conduct recruitment through the APSSB, so that qualified candidates could compete on merit.

He further claimed that documents obtained by the organisation showed 13 sanctioned technical posts lying vacant at the TRIHMS. According to him, the vacancies include six laboratory assistant posts, three ECG technician posts, two dental technician posts and one OT technician post. He questioned why these posts had not been advertised, and alleged that the authorities are encouraging outsourcing instead of filling regular vacancies through the APSSB. He added that the organisation is prepared to provide the supporting documents to the media.

Tago contended that recruitment under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the Directorate of Health Services follows different systems and should not be treated alike. Explaining the distinction, he said the NRHM is a centrally sponsored scheme funded 60 per cent by the Centre and 40 per cent by the state, whereas the Directorate of Health Services functions directly under the state government.

Tago alleged that recruitment under the NRHM is largely conducted through walk-in interviews, rather than transparent competitive examinations. While clarifying that he was not referring to every contractual employee, he alleged that many appointments made after 2010 had been through walk-in interviews, which he described as a “backdoor entry” system.

Claiming to have personally appeared in more than 15 walk-in interviews, he alleged that deserving candidates are being denied equal opportunities because proper examinations and transparent recruitment procedures are not being followed.

He further alleged that the organisation opposes what it described as a “cash-for-job” system, and demanded that all regular vacancies be filled only through transparent recruitment conducted by the APSSB.

Tago claimed that the organisation possesses a video recording of remarks made by the chief minister on the issue, and said it is prepared to share it with the media.

The chairman also claimed that appointment letters issued to around 250 NRHM contractual employees clearly stated that they could not claim regularisation or transfer of their contractual appointments. He questioned why contractual employees are allegedly seeking appointment against the 192 sanctioned laboratory technician posts despite such conditions.

Making another serious allegation, Tago claimed that the continued delay in advertising the sanctioned vacancies is encouraging what he described as a “cash-for-job” system. He questioned whether the government and the bureaucracy are allowing the posts to remain unadvertised to benefit contractual employees seeking regular appointments. Claiming that the organisation conducted a sting operation, he alleged that Rs 1.5 lakh per person was being demanded to secure one of the 192 laboratory technician posts. However, he did not present documentary evidence during the press conference, stating that the organisation would disclose further details and evidence at an appropriate time.

Tago said the organisation has submitted more than 15 memorandums and repeatedly approached the authorities since 2023, but has received no positive response. He alleged that, even after the 15 July rally, “there has been no outcome or solution to the issues raised.”

Announcing the next phase of the agitation, Tago said the VUMLT would organise a peaceful dharna on 27 July at the tennis court in Itanagar. He said the organisation has been compelled to launch the protest because of the government’s failure to provide timely intervention and redress of its grievances.

Tago also urged unemployed laboratory professionals, contractual workers, parents and members of the public to participate in the dharna. He said many parents have educated their children in laboratory technology with the hope of securing employment, and appealed to them to join the democratic movement until the organisation’s demands are addressed.