Karimnagar’s National Health Mission recruitment has drawn 1,756 applicants for 50 contractual healthcare posts, while district officials have warned candidates against middlemen allegedly promising appointments in exchange for money and attempts to influence the selection process through political recommendations.
Applications were invited for vacancies across eight categories of medical and healthcare staff in Karimnagar district. The number of applications received by the deadline on Saturday evening was higher than officials had anticipated across the categories.
Concerns emerged even before scrutiny of the applications began, with reports that intermediaries had started approaching aspirants and claiming they could secure appointments for large sums. The alleged collection of money has raised concerns because the official recruitment process is still under way and no final selection list has been issued.
District officials also reported attempts to exert political pressure on the recruitment process in favour of particular candidates. The claims relate to the selection of contractual staff for the NHM, a public health programme under which district-level healthcare personnel are recruited for approved positions.
Officials began scrutinising applications on Sunday. The scrutiny is scheduled to continue until November 8, after which the list of eligible candidates will be displayed. Applicants can file objections on November 9, according to the recruitment schedule.
The final selection list is scheduled to be announced on November 15, while appointment orders are expected to be issued on November 18. These dates form the next official milestones in the recruitment process.
District Medical and Health Department officials said the selection would be conducted transparently in accordance with instructions issued by the district collector. They asked applicants not to trust anyone claiming to have influence over the selection process or demanding money for an appointment.
“There is no scope for recommendations or lobbying in the recruitment process. Applicants should not be misled by middlemen. If anyone demands money, they should lodge a complaint. Criminal action will be taken against those responsible. Recruitment will be conducted transparently in accordance with the collector’s instructions,” District Medical and Health Officer Dr B Rajagopala Rao said.
The warning places responsibility on applicants to report demands for payment to the authorities rather than relying on intermediaries. It also signals that complaints involving alleged financial demands may result in criminal action, although the supplied report does not specify the number of complaints received or whether any cases had been registered.
The recruitment process will now move through scrutiny, publication of eligible candidates, objections and final selection before appointment orders are issued on November 18.
