Medical teachers to hold protest rally in Gujarat

The Vijay Rupani government had assured doctors that their demands would be met after which the doctors withdrew their previous state-wide agitation. However, the latest notification by the government on Non-Practicing Allowance on Monday had made it clear that these demands would not be met by the present government. The doctors are also facing problems with their DA, promotion, and recruitment of permanent faculty members.

Dr Rajnish Patel, President of GMTA told Medical Dialogues, "On May 16, the Rupani government issued a notification accepting the central notification of July 7, 2017, which put the NPA at 20% of the basic salary of doctors with a cap of Rs 2,37,500. The new government has violated this by issuing a contradictory notification today. The notification stated how the government is going to start recovering all the amount that it previously sanctioned. In 2012 government stated that Rs 85000 is going to be the upper celling our pay. The state government can't touch our basic pay or NPA. Hence, they decided to give us our financial allowances in form of personal pay. Now the government has ordered to even make the recovery of that amount. "

"As long as our DA is concerned, the government gave dearness allowance for about five months and decided to withdraw it, and recover the money paid from the salaries of professors. If they recover the amount how are they going to justify the amount which we pay as tax to the central government? This kind of behavior of the financial heads of a state is absurd. We have already met Health Minister, Deputy Secretary and also gave a presentation to the CM demonstrating our perils" added the doctor.

Commenting on the issue, Dr Kamlesh, president of GMTA Surat branch stated, "Salary cut is not our primary demand it is one of the many demands and the demands indicate at administrative failure. GMTA had demanded that medical college teachers should be allowed to start private practice after 10 years of regular service. They recruit teachers on an ad hoc basis which is not counted while considering their retirement. This needs to stop. They need to recruit doctors for permanent posts. The common examination which was held to recruit permanent medical employees in the state needs to be organized soon."

An increase in the cap on the maximum monthly salary is also demanded by the doctors as per a government resolution of 2017. Promotions of many faculty members at GMERS colleges have also been pending for a long time.

"We called off our protest after we were promised that our demands would be met. The government has gone back on its word, giving us a pay cut instead. We will continue our protest till our demands are fulfilled," added Patel.