Jajpur CDMO transferred for non-cooperation in tackling COVID-19

Jajpur: Couple of days after a few district administration officials were suspended and some others were issued show cause for their alleged dereliction of duties, Jajpur Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr Arun Kumar Patra was transferred last night.

Dr Sudhanshu Sekhar Bal was given charge of the CDMO following the transfer of Patra.

Asked about the reason behind the decision, Jajpur Collector Ranjan Kumar Das said Patra was transferred for his non-cooperation with the district administration in taking the measures to tackle deadly COVID-19.

Earlier, on Monday, the Jajpur District Collector placed five people under suspension after he found during a visit that a large number of people were roaming in the Champapur bi-weekly haat (market) violating the lockdown guidelines and social distancing norms.

The Champapur haat is operated by the Jajpur Regulated Marketing Committee and the collector suspended five of its employees for dereliction of their duties.
Das also issued show-cause notices to two child development project officers (CDPOs) of Dharmasala and Jajpur, and a medical officer of the community health centre (CHC) of Bari for their alleged absence from duty.

When the collector was on a visit to Danagadi block to review the situation on Monday, the assistant block development officer was not present in his office. Following this, Das recommended that the state government suspend the ABDO for dereliction of duty.

Also, five doctors were served show-cause notices for their absence during the visit of the deputy collector to the district headquarters hospital.