Kerala Medical College Doctors seek release of pending salary arrears

In a statement, the association drew the attention of the government and the public to Balagopal’s statement that a treasury balance of Rs. 6,000 crore was available at the time he left office. “If such resources were available, this raises a serious question as to why only the fair salary arrears of medical college doctors were withheld when similar benefits were provided to other government employees,” KGMCTA stated.

Referring to the former minister’s remarks, the association reiterated its demand that the dues owed to medical college doctors for the period from January 2016 to September 2020 be released. The association pointed out that while all other categories of government employees received their salary arrears in full, a discriminatory approach was adopted only against the medical college doctors, and they were denied the benefits they were legally entitled to.

In a press release shared by KGMCTA State General Secretary, Rosenara Beegum, the association stated, “The doctors were forced to strike despite enduring this long-standing injustice and not wanting to inconvenience the patients. It was on the assurance of the government that the salary arrears would be paid that the KGMCTA called off the long-continued strike by suspending OPDs and surgeries. But the former Finance Minister showed a deceptive approach by not keeping his word at the last minute, citing the financial situation of the government as not being favourable.”

The former Finance Minister did not take a decision on the file submitted even before the election code of conduct was approved by the secretaries of the Finance, Health, and Law departments to pay the salary arrears of medical college doctors. Then it is completely wrong to say that the previous government did not have money to pay anyone.

The then Finance Minister had repeatedly assured the doctors that the arrears would be settled in full. But unfortunately, none of those assurances was implemented. The denial of something that was rightfully due has ultimately turned out to be a great disappointment for thousands of medical college doctors who have served the public health sector with dedication.

The association further pointed out that even during the times of epidemics like Nipah and COVID, when the medical systems of developed foreign countries were shaken, the medical college doctors who worked without food and sleep, risking their own lives as the guardians of the Malayali community, were ignored. While additional benefits were given to doctors during the COVID period in other countries and states, even the benefits that they deserved were denied to the doctors of Kerala, who had rendered commendable service to society with dedication. “If there was a balance of Rs. 6000 crore in the treasury, the public should think about why the salary arrears of teachers, including doctors, in the medical education sector, which costs only Rs. 410 crore, were not paid,” they added. KGMCTA believes that the government will intervene immediately to resolve this injustice that has been going on for years.