Maha Govt agrees to Rs 10k stipend hike, hostel accommodation, Resident doctors call off strike

Mumbai: The resident doctors in Maharashtra finally called off their pan-Maharashtra strike on Sunday after the State Government decided to implement the earlier promise of a Rs 10,000 stipend hike, which will be effective from 1st March 2024 onwards.

After the Government's decision in this regard on Sunday, the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) issued a Press Release on 25.02.2024 and announced that all the resident doctors, who were on strike since 22nd February, shall join back to their respective duties effective immediately.

"The decision of increment of stipend by rupees 10 thousand, effective from 1st March 2024 for residents across the state will play a pivotal role to enhance the mental, financial and social health of each resident doctor individually as well as collectively boost the morale of all the residents," the association mentioned in the release.

Meanwhile, thanking the Government for fulfilling its promise, MARD has also requested the concerned authorities to increase the stipend of Residents of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Colleges, Associate Medical Colleges, Deemed Universities, and DNB residents in the State in order to standardise the stipend and pay the residents of respective Institutes a stipend that is on par with the State government Medical Colleges as mandated by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

The resident doctors initiated the strike over their demands regarding hostel accommodation, stipend regularisation and stipend hike. This is not the first time that the Government has offered verbal assurances to the resident doctors.

Also Read: Around 8000 Maha resident doctors on indefinite strike over unfulfilled demands

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the announcement on behalf of MARD to go on an indefinite strike starting from February 07, 2024, if their demands regarding the hostel accommodation and regularisation of stipend were not met.

The demands of the association were the availability of adequate hostel accommodation for Junior and Senior Resident doctors, payment of stipend to resident doctors' bank accounts by the 10th of every month with clearance of outstanding stipend till date, and payment of stipend at the same scale as that of Central Institutes.

While the pan-Maharashtra strike was scheduled to commence on 07.02.2024, the Central MARD had a momentous meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Minister of Medical Education Hassan Mushrif, and the Secretaries and office bearers of Medical Education, DMER, PWD and the Finance Ministry.

Even though the Government authorities assured the doctors verbally, they denied to call off their strike over verbal assurances. Finally, yesterday, during the cabinet meet, the Government decided to implement its plans for stipend hike by Rs 10,000 and also released funds to ensure proper hostel accommodation.

Lauding the government, the association mentioned in its release, "We the Central MARD are thankful to the Government for taking decisive measures to fulfil the promises that were made to Central MARD and the residents of the state of Maharashtra."

"We the Central MARD thank Deputy CM Hon Ajit Pawar Sir, Minister MEDD Hon Hassan Mushrif sir, Secretary of MEDD Dinesh Waghmare Sir, Commissioner MEDD Rajeev Nivatkar Sir, Director of DMER Dr Dilip Mhaisekar Sir, Finance and Medical Education Ministry and the respective office bearers for working promptly and ensure that demands were executed officially," it added.

Announcing its decision to call off the strike, Central MARD mentioned in its release, "Being grateful for the above and satisfied with the Goverment's commitments towards welfare of Resident doctors, we the Central Mard have decided to call off the Pan Maharashtra strike."

Commenting on the matter, the Vice President of Central MARD, Dr. Sarbik De informed the media, "We had three demands. The first one was regarding hostel accommodation. There is a lack of hostel accommodation when compared with the number of resident doctors. We demanded to increase the hostel space and build new hostels. The government has assured us and released funds to construct new hostel buildings and repair the existing hostels. Government has also issued notifications to the Deans to arrange for lease or rent of nearby buildings as hostels, where the resident doctors could stay until arrangements for the new hostels are made."

"Second demand was that the stipend should be released regularly and within a speculated time-period. The Government has assured that the stipend would be released at the same time from the next month. Our last demand was regarding the increase of stipend," he added.

Referring to the meeting with the Government when it was decided that the stipend would be increased by Rs 10,000, Dr. De added, "Cabinet meet was held yesterday and during the meet stipend has been increased by Rs 10,000. Now all of our three demands have been fulfilled."

Also Read: Verbal talks fail: Maharashtra resident doctors continue indefinite strike