Retirement age row: Resident doctors’ bodies take out march

Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD) on Wednesday took out a march from Sawai Man Singh Medical College to Trimutri Circle protesting the government’s proposal to increase the retirement age of medical college teachers from the existing 62 years to 65 years.

JARD president Dr Ravi Jakhar said that in letters written to the governor and chief minister it has been demanded that posts of assistant professor, associate professor and professor are not increasing according to the ratio of MBBS and PG doctors becoming eligible for government service every year.

He said medical college teachers after attaining 62 years should not be appointed on an administrative post and they should be restricted only to teaching.

JARD joint secretary Dr Mukesh Mahla said every year 1,800 MBBS and 1,500 PG doctors become eligible for government service after completing training, but posts are not increasing.

Medical education secretary Anand Kumar said the delegation of doctors had met and their concerns have been resolved. He said as far as posts of assistant, associate and professors are concerned, soon demand for 391 professors will be sent to Rajasthan Public Service Commission. “Posts will be there as seven new medical colleges at Bhilwara, Bharatpur, Churu, Pali, Dungarpur, Barmer and Sikar will be started soon so there will be a requirement for teachers. Apart from these, more government medical colleges will be started in the coming years at various districts, so their concern for government service will be resolved.”

As far as not appointing medical college teachers on administrative posts, making them unit in-charge and head of departments, there is provision for this and resident doctors have been assured in this regard.

Dr Jakhar said that after 62 years, medical college teachers should be given the option of voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and there should be no government interference. In this regard, Kumar said the option of VRS still exists, but VRS is not given only in cases when giving VRS to medical teachers will create the shortage in speciality department.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Medical College Teachers Association (RMCTA) secretary Dr Dhananjai Agarwal said, “A meeting will be called in this regard in next 4-5 days and will take the decision.”

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