Panel to look into AIIMS pay-scales

NEW DELHI, February 22: A new committee of officials from various ministries will be set up to decide on pay-scales for the agitating fac...

NEW DELHI, February 22: A new committee of officials from various ministries will be set up to decide on pay-scales for the agitating faculty members of All India institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS.

The committee is to submit its report in three days. The faculty members, however, said the strike was still very much on and the fourth committee planned so far for them did not inspire any hope.

The decision to form the committee was taken at a meeting of a three-member ministerial group, set up to go into the demand of the 400 doctors of the institute.

8220;If the ministers8217; panel could not decide for a month what can officials decide in three days?8221; Bir Singh, a member of the Faculty Association said.

The group of ministers headed by Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, including Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, Minister for Personnel K.M.R Janarthanan and Health Minister Dalit Ezhilmalai was set up nearly a month ago. They have had four meetings so far. After the meeting on Monday, in which the faculty was not called, Ezhilmalai said officials of the Ministries of Finance, Personnel and Health have been asked to find ways to improve pay-scales for the striking doctors and submit a report within the next three days.

8220;This will be the fourth committee to be formed to discuss our salaries. After the Bakshi Committee set up by the Health Ministry to recommend pay-scales for the doctors, Murli Manohar Joshi had suggested forming a panel for all medical institutes. The third panel to discuss their salaries was that of the ministers. We do not expect anything now,8221; faculty members said.

Earlier in the day, the striking doctors took out a rally to draw the attention of Parliamentarians towards the AIIMS crisis. They submitted a memorandum to Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi.

Story continues below this ad

PTI adds: The Delhi High Court sought a categorical reply from the Government as to when the strike would end, saying: 8220;We are not concerned what action the government is taking about the salaries of doctors and a committee report. We are only concerned that the strike should end.8221;

The hearing has been adjourning till tomorrow.