Resident docs to protest from today

Resident and senior resident doctors of all six medical colleges in the state to work while wearing black badges from March 1 to 7, says association head

DHANBAD: Resident doctors of Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Ranchi and senior residents of five other medical colleges in the state will register protest in hospitals from Monday against non-payment of arrears for last three years, as per the 7th pay commission’s recommendations, officials said.

Resident doctors of all six medical colleges on Sunday informed about their proposed agitation to health minister, health secretary, and superintendents of their respective institutions.

Convener of Jharkhand Resident Doctors’ Association (JRDA) Dr Ajit Kumar, while rolling out the agitation programme, said all resident and senior resident doctors would work under protest wearing black badges from March 1 to 7. If the state health department fails to clear dues in seven days, resident doctors of all six medical colleges would go on to boycott work from March 8, he said.

“Resident doctors are compelled to adopt agitation path as health minister and other concerned authorities were informed about our demand one month ago. The health minister had assured to look into the matter, but no step was taken,” said Dr Ajit Kumar.

The 7th pay scale was implemented in 2016 and Jharkhand government started salary payment from 2019.

The state government had earlier announced to clear arrears of 2016-2019. However, despite repeated reminders, no action has been taken so far.

In January this year, a delegation of resident doctors had met health minister Banna Gupta during RIMS’ Governing Body(GB) meeting in Ranchi and handed over him a memorandum regarding the pending payment.

Some resident doctors have already graduated from RIMS and are working at different medical colleges of the state, while some of them have even joined duty in other states, but were yet to get their arrears according to the 7th pay scale.

When contacted, health minister Banna Gupta did not respond to calls on Sunday. However, a senior officer of the health department’s medical education wing said the payment was under process and dues would be cleared soon.

Health minister and other concerned authorities were informed about our demand one month ago, but no step has been taken so far.

DR AJIT KUMAR, convener of J’khand Resident Doctors’ Association