Telangana: Assistant Professors write to Kakatiya Medical College Principal over non-payment of salary

Hyderabad: Requesting regular payment of salaries, the assistant professors employed on a contractual basis in Kakatiya Medical College wrote a signed letter to the Principal on 13th October 2022 complaining that they are facing irregular and delayed payment of salaries despite working same as the regular Assistant Professors.  

Around 44 assistant professors received a salary only twice in the past eight months, even though they have been working for one year now. The contract period for the professors is one year, and the contracts were renewed again for most doctors in March this year. However, they have not been receiving their salary for the last 5 months. 

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The letter observed that the doctors were forced to take loans to meet their daily needs. It read, "We are forced to approach loans to meet the daily needs of us and our families. We are working similarly to regular Asst Professors but we are facing delayed and irregular payment of salaries." Requesting the principal to look into the matter, the letter said, "Consider our request of regular payment of salaries on par with Regular Asst Professors." 

Dr. M. Naresh, an assistant professor of KMC, said, "No salaries have been paid since the renewal of the contracts. I last received my salary in June," adding, "KMC principal said they need at least 1-2 weeks to disperse the salaries." Dr. Naresh further questioned, "How do the government and hospital expect us to continue working without getting paid? How do we pay our rent and manage our expenses?" 

Another KMC-based assistant professor recruited on a contract basis from April 2022–23 told the Newsmeter, "I got paid only for April and May. After that, I have not received my salary. When we ask the higher authorities they said the salaries are not being paid due to lack of budget. If there is no budget then why recruit us?"

This is not the only story of the pending salaries of assistant professors, as Osmania Medical College contract doctors have also reported that they have not received their salary since April. They had also sent a signed written letter to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME). The letter stated, "We are unable to sustain such a long delay in crediting salaries. Kindly consider our request and look into the matter and help us receive pending salaries and also ensure future salaries are paid on time.' 

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about a protest carried out by senior doctors in Telangana who boycotted elective services including outpatient and ward over non-payment of salaries. Their salaries had been allegedly pending for three to seven months despite repeated demands to the government. 

Also Read:No Salary: Telangana Senior Doctors boycott Elective Services, warn of stopping emergency from Doctors Day