Odisha Govt doctors seek promotion scheme, warn of stir from February 1

Bhubaneswar: Over the Odisha government's failure to implement the doctors' long pending demand for a promotion scheme, 'Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP)', the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA), a body of government doctors, has threatened to stop working from February 1 as a form of protest against the state government.  

The doctors also threatened to not cooperate in implementing national programmes until their demands are met. The decision to go for a protest was announced by the doctors association during a press meeting. 

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OMSA president Dr Narayan Rout and general secretary Dr Biswajit Samal said doctors across the state have all along supported the administration and taken great risks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their “genuine demand” for implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) has not been met thus frustrating the aspirations of hundreds of doctors working in the government sector. States like Bihar have implemented the scheme after the Centre introduced it in 2006, Dr Rout said. The doctors called it disappointing that the Odisha government has given only 10-grade pay in the last 20 years. 

A doctor said that the Odisha government did not show any interest in fulfilling their demands despite several discussions, adding that the government's inordinate delay in fulfilling their demands has forced them to take this decision. The OMSA in a press note said despite several rounds of talks with the state government, no step has been taken so far to fulfill the demands. 

As per a media report in the Odisha TV, Rout said, "The government seems reluctant to fulfill our demands though we have been raising them since 2008. Secondly, the government should restructure our cadre. Thirdly, the government should regularize adhoc doctors. Doctors fail to avail of government leave entitled to them. The government should come up with a mechanism so that doctors should not be deprived of leave." 

The doctors also alleged that the state government is busy constructing medical colleges, but shows little interest towards fulfilling the demands of the doctors. 

As part of the stir, the OMSA members will first wear black badges on February 1 and then go on a relay strike before deciding to proceed on cease work agitation, Dr Rout said. “We are optimistic that the government will consider our genuine demands which also include regularisation of ad-hoc doctors.''

The association is also demanding the withdrawal of the policy making it mandatory for a doctor to work in the undivided KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region for a specified period before his/her retirement. OMSA state president Biswajit Samal said, "We want the government not to make this policy compulsory for the doctors because communication and infrastructure in those areas have not been developed." 

Samal also demanded a restructuring of the senior cadre, as per a media report in the Times of India. Further, demanding a reduction in the retirement age, Samal said, "We want the government to reduce the retirement age from 65. We want a life after retiring from service." Stating that the government should also consider a doctor's PG time, he said, "A PG doctor also works for the government while studying in the medical college." 

The OMSA said it did not launch a stir in January keeping in mind the ongoing FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in the state. However, the doctors will launch a state-wide stir from February 1 after completion of the mega event on January 29, if the government fails to take any action to meet their demands, the OMSA said. Dr. Rout said, "In view of the Hockey World Cup, we had postponed our strike which was scheduled to be held on January 16. If the government fails to consider our demands after the Hockey World Cup, we will go on a strike from February 1." 

The DACP scheme, applied to all doctors working under the Health and Family Welfare department, assures time-bound promotion for doctors. 

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