In a first of its kind incident, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Nabarangpur bowed down before a junior doctor in order to bring an end to the impasse created at a hospital after the latter went on indefinite protest (dharna).
The incident that caught the attention of many took place on Monday when Dr Sacchikant Lenka who is posted at the Tentulikhunti Community Health centre (CHC) in the district went to the office of the CDMO, Sovarani Mishra to enquire about the status of a complaint he had lodged earlier.
However, as per Lenka’s claims, Mishra misbehaved with him and asked him to get out of her office, following which he sat on a dharna in front of her office demanding justice.
Speaking to reporters, Lenka alleged that Mishra treated him like a 'stray dog'. He said he had filed a complaint against his in-charge last Monday for harrassing him mentally. However, when he went to enquire about his complain today, she was livid at him and asked him to "go and bark elsewhere," he alleged.
“I have been subjected to mental harrassment since long. My earned leaves are not being granted. I am yet to receive my KBK incentive and a government quarters to stay. CDMO Mishra has been targetting me out of personal grudge,” Lenka alleged.
Hearing the news of strike by Lenka, the Additional District Collector, Bhaskar Raita reached the spot and tried to pacify the former. Following this, Mishra went near Lenka and bowed down before him seeking apologies in order to end the dharna.
Meanwhile, Mishra claimed she was unaware of Lenka’s allegations. “I do not know what are his demands. I never received any written complaint from him. It is only now that I got to know all of these from you (media personnel). I will put up an inquiry to investigate his allegations, but only after receiving a written complaint from Lenka.”
Though Lenka called off his agitation on Monday, he has warned to resume if his demands were not met within seven days.