Doctors to stage protest over 5% cut

CHANDIGARH : In a monetary setback to doctors working under Union government, the Centre has notified decrease in the nonpractising allowance (NPA), which is given to them for loss of opportunity to practice in private capacity, from the existing 25% to 20% of the basic salary. This has created fear of decrease in salary among state government doctors in Punjab and Haryana too, and they are planning to hold protest.

Since the Centre has notified the 7th Pay Commission with effect from January, NPA was not paid as doctors protested the 5% cut. At the same time, the government paid the other perks as per the new pay panel report.

As for the NPA, a committee under the chairmanship of the Union finance secretary was set up to look into the doctors’ demand to at least maintain a 25% NPA. This committee on July 7 got issued notification, a copy of which is available with HT, okaying the 5% cut.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government has given the 7th Pay Commission salaries but kept the NPA on hold as did the Centre. “The state was waiting for the Union government’s decision. Now there is no other idea but to implement the decreased NPA. But we won’t allow this to happen and will oppose this tooth and nail,” said Dr Rajesh Khayalia,

CENTRE HAS SLASHED NPA FROM THE EXISTING 25% TO 20% OF THE BASIC SALARY

co-convener of the All India Federation of Government Doctors Association (AIFGDA).

Khayalia, who is from Haryana, said the decrease in NPA would mean a big cut in salary as this allowance increases 25% of the basic salary, which is then the basis of other allowances.

In Punjab, Dr Aslum Parvez, president of Rural Medical Services Association and media adviser of the AIFGDA, said that though Punjab is yet to implement the 7th Pay Commission, “there are chances of following the Centre and Haryana as tradition”.

“All associations from states and the Centre are meeting on July 15-16 in Delhi to chalk out the strategy about how to go about the protest. Our state association is also planning a strike as Punjab is yet to even implement the pay commission report,” said Dr Aslum, claiming that the original proposal of the 7th Pay Commission was to increase NPA to 30%.

As per estimates by the doctors’ association, after the 5% decrease a doctor having 15 years of experience will see a decrease of Rs 10,000 a month in the salary that would have been if NPA was kept at 25%.