An accountant with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) who was terminated from her job for complaining against her superiors has lodged a complaint with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women to request punishment for those she has accused of harassing her.
The woman had filed an FIR with police in Williamnagar last month.
The original complaint was lodged by the woman on December 21 against Maternal and Child Health Officer Dr Lobingwell M Sangma and District Programme Manager Karak Sevenstar A Sangma. The complaint to the Women’s Commission also lists Dr Ivory Sangma, the District Medical and Health Officer of intimidation.
Five women employees, including the accountant, in the Health Department had complained of harassment in the workplace.
According to the complainants, though an enquiry into the complaint against Dr Sangma was conducted by the Additional District Magistrate, it was they who were blamed for “indiscipline towards the authorities” and “violation of conduct rules.”
They were accused of inciting pressure groups to cause disruption to the department’s work.
The accountant explained to the Women’s Commission that the delay in lodging the FIR was not intentional but due to fear of losing her job because she was earlier threatened of termination during a district level meeting held in the first week of October 2022.
The woman was appointed as an accountant on contractual basis in 2015. She stated that in Bansamgre and Nengmandalgre PHCs she was continuously “harassed, humiliated, assaulted and abused” by Dr Sangma.
While she was accused of illegally collecting money from the ASHA workers and doing business in Bansamgre PHC, she also stated that Dr Sangma had asked one Dr Balnadia R. Marak to file a complaint letter against her with an adverse remark in the appraisal report.
