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Call off strike or face action: GMC Bhopal warns junior doctors as stir continues after alleged Govt, cop harassment

Sanchari ChattopadhyayWritten by Sanchari Chattopadhyay   |  
Call off strike or face action: GMC Bhopal warns junior doctors as stir continues after alleged Govt, cop harassment
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Bhopal: The Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal administration has recently issued a notice to the striking junior resident doctors warning them of action, including cancellation of their registration if they do not call off the strike immediately.

The junior resident doctors' who have been on strike under the umbrella of the Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) over fulfilment of their 6-point charter of demands, including a hike of 24 per cent in their stipends and a 6 per cent annual hike intensified their protest after the alleged harassment of the parents of the JDA President by the government to withdraw the strike.

Sored with government, cop action, the striking doctors of Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal boycotted their work for the last three consecutive days by covering themselves with coffin shrouds, or ëkafansí.

However, the GMC Bhopal administration has warned them of action seeking to withdraw the strike.

The junior doctors protest intensified after the President of Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) Bhopal and other office bearers of JDA levelled serious allegations against the State Government, claiming that polices were sent at their residence, who threatened their family seeking to withdraw the strike.

The junior resident doctors had decided to go on a strike after no steps were taken by the authorities to resolve their issues despite getting assurance from the Medical Education Minister and the Medical Education Commissioner on 8th May 2021 that their demands will be fulfilled. The President of JDA Bhopal claimed that instead of resolving their issues, authorities tried to threaten him and his family by sending police to his place on Tuesday night and pressurized him to immediately call off the strike.

Condemning the act of the government and the authorities, the junior doctors of GMC, Bhopal protested wearing white coffin shrouds in the college premises. Moreover, the doctors also arranged a mobile torchlight demonstration at the hospital premises and organized a candlelight March from the college to Maharaja Yashwant Hospital as a part of the agitation on Wednesday.

The JDA spokesman Dr. Kriti Sinha also informed
Free Press Journal that other than the JDA president, many other office bearers of JDA had to face threats from the authorities. "Instead of meeting our demands, the government has tried to threaten us by sending cops at places of the office bearers of junior doctors who threatened our parents. The government has forced us to strike the work as we had raised our demands earlier too but they only made false promises, " she added.

JDA had earlier confirmed that if the authorities would not provide any written assurance by May 30, then the junior doctors would be forced to go on strike and all emergency services would have to be stopped on 31st May. Even then, if no proper action is taken, then the junior doctors might contemplate boycotting COVID duties as well. Receiving no positive response from the authorities, the junior resident doctors went on strike at their respective colleges across the state and boycotted COVID duty and emergency services also.
The junior doctors demanded that their stipend should be increased by 24%. For example, from Rs 55000 to Rs 68200, from Rs 57000 to Rs 70680, and so on. " We should also be given an annual 6% increase every year on our basic stipend. A committee should be formed which will give its decision on removing the rural bond in lieu of COVID duty as soon as possible. The committee will include the representatives of JDA", stated the press release.
Moreover, the residents also demanded that every junior doctor working in COVID duty will get a gazetted certificate which in the future will be beneficial in securing a government job. Further, hospitals and beds will be reserved and priority will be given to the treatment of healthcare workers who served COVID duties and their families.
The association further stated that if after the agitation the government stays inactive, the association will deny any previous negotiation with authorities. "We will continue our protest and no junior doctor in MP will go to work under such circumstances. After that whatever the consequences may be, the government will be responsible for it", added the association.
Dr. Harish Pathak, President of Bhopal JDA and attached to Gandhi Medical College told Medical Dialogues, " In order to pressurize me to call off the strike, authorities have deliberately threatened me. One of the police officials visited me at night and took every detail from me regarding my parents and family. He called my father in front of me and warned him while asking him to make me understand the consequences of not calling off the strike."
When asked about his further steps, the doctor informed, " We will not call off the strike in the face of any kind of threat. Many junior doctor associations all over the country have extended their support for our cause. Also, 400 junior doctors in Bhopal and 3500 junior doctors in MP are protesting right now for our rightful demands. IMA and all the Medical Teachers' Association of MP have also extended their support to us."
Stating that his family has been greatly disturbed and scared by the police warning, he added, " Though my family is scared for my safety, my parents have supported my decision of continuing the protest. They told me to persist for our rightful demands."
After the incident, the doctors intensified their agitation, while the college authorities have also released a list with names of junior doctors who have been boycotting duty. The protesting doctors claimed that the authorities have directed them to join immediately or face consequences.
The Free Press Journal reports that Dr Jitendra Shukla, Dean, Gandhi Medical College stated, " The GMC administration has served notice on the striking JUDA doctors and instructed them that action would be taken, including cancellation of their registration. Weíve also released the names of the striking doctors."
Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also extended support to the protesting doctors and condemned the action of the police. "We condemn the action of the police and appeal to the government that the junior doctors had worked round the clock in COVID and now the government should listen to them. Any action on junior doctors will lead to the strike by junior doctors across the state," IMA Indore president Dr. Satish Joshi said.

JDA BhopalJunior doctors associationstrikedoctor threatenedjunior doctorsjunior resident doctorsstipendjda mpJDA MPdoctor protestcandle marchima
Source : with inputs
Sanchari Chattopadhyay
Sanchari Chattopadhyay

    Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.

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