GSVM junior docs protest against salary discrepancy

Sources at GSVM revealed that while a junior resident doctor at the King George Medical University (KGMU) received a salary package of Rs 32,000 per month,the doctors at GSVM received only Rs 24,000 per month.

The difference in salary structure is due to the fact that GSVM students are not given the Non-Practicing Allowance. As a mark of protest,the GSVM doctors wore a black armband for a few days,but the efforts to convince the institute authorities went in vain.

Dr Raul Dev,a junior resident doctor said: “When the Sixth Pay Commission mentions that equal salary should be given to the junior resident doctors,one fails to understand the logic behind the discrimination.”

The doctors also pointed out the discrimination in relation to the six state-run medical colleges at Agra,Kanpur,Allahabad,Meerut,Jhansi and Gorakhpur. In these institutes,the doctors received far less than the package received by junior resident doctors of KGMU.

“We have raised the issue before GSVM authorities on several occasions,but each time,our appeal has been turned down. Therefore,we decided to boycott work,” said Dev.

According to another junior resident doctor,the protests will be carried on till a decision is taken in their favour.

“We will soon hold a meeting of the junior resident doctors to discuss our future strategies on the issue,” he said.

The doctor claimed that keeping in mind the high number of patients turning up at the LLR hospital each day,the protest was restricted to two hours only.

“Our intention is not to create problems for patients and their family members,but we simply want the state government to give us equal salary,” he added.

Anand Swaroop,Principal of GSVM College,meanwhile,said the state government and Medical Education Department officials have been informed about the demand of the doctors.

“A strike,however,will not be tolerated and efforts are being made to convince them to hold no more protests in the future,” said Swaroop.