Why cancel recruitment of Family Welfare Inspectors?

The Directorate of Family Planning issued a notification on 10 March 2020 for the recruitment of 1,080 trainees for the post of Family Welfare Inspector. Approximately 331,000 candidates applied. However, despite the publication of the recruitment circular, the exam was not held on time. After three long years, the written exam finally took place on 18 February 2023. The results of the written examination were published on May11, followed by a viva notice for interviews between May 25and June18. However, the exam process was plagued with irregularities. In response to complaints, a high-powered committee, including the Additional Secretary of the Health Education and Family Welfare Department, was formed to investigate. The investigation found no evidence to support the allegations. Now, job aspirants are awaiting the results of the oral test. Yet, despite eight long months since the exams, the Family Planning Directorate has failed to release the final results.

Job seekers are understandably frustrated. Condition No. 7 of the recruitment circular stated that successful trainees would need to submit a certificate of physical fitness and proof of no pregnancy from the Civil Surgeon before joining. If a candidate was pregnant, her nomination would be cancelled. Accepting this condition, candidates waited nearly three years for the Inspector post, wasting valuable time in the process. Many candidates made personal sacrifices, hoping for a job. But now, a year after the exam, rather than releasing the results, the Directorate has issued a notice cancelling the recruitment altogether. They even cancelled Condition No. 7 without publishing the results. But can the authorities compensate for four years of wasted time?

Many candidates have now passed the age limit for government service, and some postponed having children due to the recruitment requirements. At one point, the Directorate cited irregularities in the written exam as the reason for the cancellation. But if there were irregularities, why proceed with the oral exam? Candidates have been unfairly harassed throughout this process.

Therefore, I urge the Directorate of Family Planning to revoke the cancellation notice for the Family Welfare Inspector post and publish the results without further delay.

Md. Abdullah Almamun

Student, Department of Sociology

Jagannath University, Dhaka