Sources said all three staff members had been charged with laxity and mis-reporting. The Panchayat employees, who were suspended, were field-workers, while the SSPA doctor, who has been issued a show-cause notice, was responsible for Vyara and other rehabilitation sites. Action was also being contemplated against a couple of others, sources said.

Meanwhile, the high-power monitoring committee -- headed by a deputy director (health) and three experts on pediatrics, gynaecology and general medicine, and backed by multi-purpose health workers, midwives and a mobile mini-hospital -- was learnt to be becoming operational from Wednesday. The committee will be visiting all the SSP rehabilitation sites periodically, and stepping up vigilance during the summer.

The SSPA's extant 30 paramedical staff members, 10 medical officers and consultant Dr P G Talati will be clubbed with the Cell, which will have over all responsibility for all the oustees settled in Gujarat.

Other experts will be drawn on deputation from various agencies, including medical colleges, Panchayat health teams and the health department.

State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt and SSPA commissioner Vinod Babbar told Express Newsline that all oustees would be given health-identity cards by mid-May, while the auxiliary services provided by the Panchayat and health department would be strengthened.

Claiming that chlorine and iron tablets would be distributed, insecticides sprayed, water sampled, diagnosis made and information disseminated about personal hygiene round the year, Babbar said 20,000 vegetable and fruit trees would also be planted at the sites in association with the Forest department to help oustees address their iron and vitamin deficiencies.

The SSPA commissioner said NGOs and professionals would be roped in for an awareness campaign. ``Separate campaigns will be necessary to tackle their weakness for country liquor'', he added.