Central Research Institute, Kasauli, suffering from a severe workforce crunch
1 Apr, 2013The premier vaccine producing units in the country, the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, is suffering from a severe shortage of workforce since 2000.
An application filed under the Right to Information (RTI application) Act has shown that a stark crunch in the status of staff strength in the institute over a decade. The institute has been working without even half the posts for senior scientists, medical personnel or senior administrative staff ever being filled up during the past decade. The institute supplies a significant share of the vaccines for the national immunisation programme.
This has led to a lapse of many of the posts as they were not been filled in time. The institute is now left to initiate the process of revival of the posts and send proposals to the health ministry. In case of senior positions, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) have to be involved.
Both CRI Kasauli and Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor, together supplied over 90% of DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccine doses and over 80% of tetanus toxoid vaccine for the universal immunization programme of the country till 2006-07. Later, on the plea that they did not adhere to good manufacturing practices (GMP), they were shut down and the imports made started. Critics have pointed to the fact that the price of vaccines more than doubled from Rs 12 to Rs 28 per vial of DPT vaccine and from Rs 6 to Rs 15 per vial of Tetanus toxoid vaccine when the production shifted to private sector. Even the parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare had criticised the move to shut down government units producing vaccines.
Staff strength in different categories at CRI Kasauli
Year |
Total posts A |
Vacant posts A |
Total posts B |
Vacant posts B |
Total posts C |
Vacant posts C |
Total posts D |
Vacant posts D |
2000 |
49 |
31 |
10 |
5 |
223 |
18 |
524 |
22 |
2005 |
51 |
34 |
9 |
4 |
229 |
22 |
522 |
83 |
2010 |
50 |
32 |
7 |
2 |
213 |
21 |
430 |
61 |
2012 |
51 |
28 |
16 |
6 |
213 |
26 |
430 |
106 |