Ranchi's RIMS to file FIR against cleaning agency

Ranchi: The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) is planning to file a police report against a cleaning company, Annapurna Utility Services Private Limited. This action follows an unauthorized work stoppage by the cleaning staff during hospital hours. Rims management stated that disrupting essential services at the hospital is a serious crime. They noted that the cleaning agency's workers have been paid through December 2024. However, there are still ongoing issues with salary distribution. The agency has been late in submitting bills, leading to concerns. For example, January's bill was submitted only in late February, and the bill for February is still pending. The notice from Rims pointed out that the cleaning agency has misled its workers about their salaries, causing frequent service interruptions. The agency is required to pay its employees on time, regardless of payment delays from Rims. Additionally, the agency has failed to follow the hospital's procedures for timely bill submissions. Dr. Rajkumar, the director of Rims, has instructed officials to begin blacklisting the cleaning agency. Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, the public relations officer, mentioned complaints about poor cleanliness in the hospital. Inspections showed that hygiene standards were not being met. Further investigations revealed problems with the agency's billing practices, including inconsistencies between the number of workers billed and those actually present. There are also reports of potential illegal activities involving some of the agency's workers. In response, Rims management is moving quickly to find a new cleaning service provider, as the current contract is about to end. Cleaning staff have resumed their duties after discussions about salaries, but Rims plans to go ahead with legal action against the agency. This situation emphasizes the need for better monitoring and compliance for contracted services at the healthcare facility.