BENGALURU: The Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD) has called for an indefinite strike from November 29 (Monday) to protest non-payment of Rs 10,000 monthly Covid allowance and non-reduction of their academic fees.
The strike will comprise withdrawal of elective services, including OPDs and surgeries (excluding emergency services), at all medical colleges affiliated with KARD. While the association had announced a similar indefinite strike on November 9, it was called off after the minister for medical education promised to resolve the issues in 10 days. Karnataka had announced the allowance from April to all resident doctors.
Intent to address issue not visible: Assn
It is unfortunate to note that the assurance given by the minister has not been fulfilled. The intent to address the issue is clearly not visible as resident doctors were excluded from the package of Covid-risk allowance announced recently by government of Karnataka. We are left with no option but to display our dissent in this regard,” read a press release from the association.
The state had announced the Covid allowance per month from April to all resident doctors. It has not been paid yet. Also, the academic fee was hiked from Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,20,000.
The students were not given any concession during Covid even when school fees were reduced.
The association has pointed at the repeated postponements of NEET-PG counselling. It urged the Centre and the Supreme Court to expedite NEET-PG 2021counselling and admission, besides fast-tracking the court proceedings.
