THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government health service doctors began an indefinite non-cooperation strike in protest against a cut in their pay and allowances. They have decided to boycott the trainings, online meeting and e-Sanjeevani duties.
The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) started its non-cooperation strike by boycotting the extra works and without affecting the patient care. They have also decided to intensify the agitation from October 15 if their demands are not met.
The doctors have threatened to boycott review meetings, VIP duty and meetings of the local self government department from October 15 onwards. If their grievances are still not addressed, they will hold a relay standing protest in front of Secretariat from November 1 and thereafter, on November 16 the doctors would go on a mass casual leave, the association leaders said.
Since the Covid outbreak, the doctors and health workers have been working hard and sincerely to take care of those infected, despite lack of basic facilities. Despite working relentlessly by facing the challenges posed by the pandemic, not only were the doctors and health workers not provided any risk allowance, when the pay revision came, their salaries were also not increased and instead their various allowances were withdrawn by the state government, said the KGMOA in a statement.
Meanwhile, the government medical college hospital doctors have also threatened to go on strike if the anomalies in the pay revision are not rectified. On October 21, they will protest in front of all the principal offices and before the directorate of medical education office in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding the rectification of the anomalies.
The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) in a statement issued here said despite repeated requests the government has not considered their demands. The government had implemented the pay revision in 2020 which was due in 2016. However, till date the government has not issued the pay slips to the doctors with the revised salaries. There are widespread anomalies in the pay revision such that in the entry cadre there has been a cut in the basic pay, said the association leaders.
