Telangana AYUSH doctors call off strike after stipend hike assurance

Hyderabad: Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha’s assurance to address the long-pending demand for a stipend hike has prompted Telangana AYUSH students, house surgeons and postgraduate doctors to call off their 28-day strike on Monday.

The decision followed a meeting between a delegation of AYUSH students, house surgeons, postgraduate doctors, student leaders and the Health Minister in Hyderabad.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that Ananthalakshmi Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Warangal witnessed an indefinite strike by Telangana AYUSH Joint Action Committee (JAC) house surgeons on Saturday, as the protestors continued their demand for a stipend hike. JAC joint secretary Dr Rohith Basre said the strike would continue in the coming days under the slogan “No holiday until justice.” The protesting AYUSH house surgeons have alleged that they have not received fair treatment regarding stipends for nearly a decade.

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According to the news reports, during the meeting, the delegation raised concerns over the disparity in stipends between AYUSH and allopathy medical trainees.

The delegation sought an increase in stipends for AYUSH house surgeons and postgraduate doctors, stating that the demand had remained pending for nearly a decade. They also demanded parity with the stipends paid to their allopathy counterparts.

“The Minister heard our concerns and assured us that the government would take a positive decision on increasing AYUSH stipends to a level on par with allopathy. He also assured us that the necessary procedures would be completed and an official Government Order (GO) would be issued soon,” said a statement from the doctors, reports the Hindu.

Following the Minister’s assurance, the AYUSH students and doctors announced the withdrawal of their indefinite strike.

Speaking to V6 Velugu, AYUSH JAC President Dr Rajesh said that Minister Damodar, who has recognized the difficulties of the students, has assured that orders to increase the stipend will be issued soon. With the assurance given by the minister, they are completely withdrawing the strike and express special gratitude to the state government and the minister for taking the initiative to resolve their problems.

The AYUSH doctors and students are now awaiting the government’s formal decision and issuance of the promised GO on the stipend hike.

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