Agartala, 28th October 2026 : Frustrated over prolonged unemployment and delays in recruitment, a group of qualified Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Multipurpose Workers (MPWs) on Wednesday met Dr Anjan Das, Director of the Directorate of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine, and submitted a memorandum demanding the immediate filling of vacant posts.
The candidates alleged that regular recruitment in the health sector had remained inadequate for the past eight to nine years, while numerous vacancies continued to exist across the state. They expressed disappointment over repeated assurances regarding recruitment, claiming that the process had been delayed despite earlier expectations of completion before the elections or the Durga Puja festivities.
“There is no point in studying if there are no jobs,” some of the aggrieved candidates said, questioning how they could continue to hope for employment after years of waiting.
According to the candidates, recruitment has largely been conducted on 50 basis, limiting opportunities for fresh applicants. They argued that the number of posts being filled was insufficient to accommodate qualified candidates graduating from training institutions every year. Some also claimed that despite securing good marks, they had not even received calls for interviews.
The candidates further pointed to staff shortages at rural health sub-centres, alleging that some facilities were operating without adequate MPW personnel, while others were reportedly left understaffed or non-functional. They said the situation was particularly concerning as new health centres continued to be inaugurated across the state.
Citing retirements and existing vacancies, the candidates argued that recruitment should be undertaken on a larger scale rather than through the limited process currently being followed. They maintained that several qualified candidates had remained unemployed for nearly a decade despite completing the required training.
The delegation said they were informed that the recruitment process, which has reportedly been pending for around one and a half years, might be completed only after the elections. The candidates expressed dissatisfaction with the response, stating that similar assurances had been made earlier without any tangible progress.
Demanding immediate action, the candidates urged the authorities to expedite recruitment for vacant ANM and MPW posts, ensure adequate staffing at health sub-centres and provide qualified unemployed candidates with a fair opportunity to secure government jobs.
