Utkal Hospital CEO Alok Lodh suspended over ‘anti-Odia’ recruitment advertisement

Bhubaneswar: Utkal Hospital today suspended its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Alok Lodh over a recruitment-related social media post by him giving preference to candidates ‘not belonging to Odisha’.

Lodh had recently taken to LinkedIn and posted a recruitment advertisement inviting applications for the post of OPD Manager, Utkal Hospital, Bhubaneswar.

“Candidates from outside Odisha (Not belonging to Odisha) with a strong communication skill set and willing to join immediately will be given preference,” Lodh had mentioned in the post.

Below is the LinkedIn post:

As the post drew sharp criticism on the platform, management of the Utkal Hospital today suspended him.

“It has come to the notice of Utkal Hospital Management that, Dr. Alok Lodh, CEO, has posted some statements in his personal social media account without any authorization from management which has hurts the sentiments of Odias Such act of Dr. Alok Lodh is purely his personal and Utkal Hospital Management does not endorse such action,” the hospital said in a statement.

“It is hereby informed that Dr. Alok Lodh, CEO of Utkal Hospital has been immediately suspended until further investigation. Utkal Hospital which is owned and operated by Odias and whose 99% of its employees are from Odisha and will always strive to keep Odia pride intact. Our sincerest apologies to all,” it added.

On the other hand, Lodh has also apologised for his post.

“A recent post of mine has hurt the sentiments of many. My deepest apologies to one and all. It was not my intention to hurt anyone’s sentiment nor to the people of Odisha from where I have been born and I belong,” he said.