Report on Cold Chain Assessment of Jharkhand - 2005 - Nccvmtc.org

Cold Chain Assessment in Jharkhand6.8.4. Availability of technicians, spares and workshopsThe response time after reporting a breakdown has been found to be very long. In some cases,the complaint has yet to be attended to and the machine has not been repaired.Assessors spoke to Mr B.K. Ghosh in Patna to discuss the contract held with UNICEF. Themaintenance of the cold chain is assured under a UNICEF contract with Voltas in Patna. Thiscontract was entered into with Voltas before Jharkhand was formed and is still managed fromPatna with sub-contracts issued to different local firms in Jharkhand. The sub-contract inWest Singhbhum is managed by Superior Aircon (39 Golmuri Market, Jamshedpur, Tel:0657 2340212). Technicians at Superior Aircon are well equipped to handle CFC-free repairas they have been trained by Voltas, but it is not evident that the same facilities are availablein the other districts.Servicing in this district is done from Jamshedpur using UNICEF funds for repair of equipment,including transport to Jamshedpur, when necessary, of equipment which is not functioning.It was found that response when breakdown was reported in this district was relativelyrapid.6.9. PersonnelEven with the most sophisticated equipment, finally the efficiency of the cold chain will dependon the personnel managing it. Usually the LHV or ‘Computer’ (an accounts-relatedpost) manages the day-to-day operation of the equipment. Often, no back-up staff is availableif the designated staff is absent.Lack of staff motivation was generally observed. This could have to do with non-payment ofsalaries!at many of the PHCs, the staff had not received salaries for more than four months.But staff motivation was also highly dependent on the CS, the MOiC and the UNICEF extender’sinterest and initiative. There were rare instances where personal motivation was highin spite of the setbacks.39