Government gives in to striking doctors’ demand, raises their stipends

The stipend was less than 60% of the pay that medical colleges in other States give their resident doctors
Government gives in to striking doctors’ demand, raises their stipends
Government gives in to striking doctors’ demand, raises their stipends

In a partial victory to medical students in government colleges, who have been protesting for three weeks, the state government has finally agreed to raise their stipends.

As many as 2,500 resident doctors across the state have been on a strike for 23 days demanding a raise in stipend, which the Cabinet approved in a decision on Monday. The government would be revising the pay after four years. 

According to the resident doctors, the stipend was less than 60% of the pay that medical colleges in other States give their resident doctors. However, their other demands have not been addressed by the government in the present order.

Read: 'We are modern slaves' say junior doctors on indefinite strike in Karnataka http://bit.ly/1hCDydh

As per the cabinet decision, the stipend for trainee MBBS doctors would be increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 and that of PG doctors from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 for the first year, from Rs 30,000 to Rs. 35,000 for the second year and from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 40,000 for the third year students.

For doctors pursuing MD and MCh courses (specialization and super-specialization) stipends would be to Rs. 40,000 for the first year, Rs. 45,000 for the second year and Rs. 50,000 for the third year.

Other demands:

Other demands of the protesting doctors include decrease in working hours, which has not been addressed yet.

Before the protests began on August 31, the super-specialty residents of Bengaluru Medical College had sought the intervention of the Karnataka High Court to ask the government to implement the Residency scheme, according to which working hours would be limited 48 hours a week.

Happy with the decision, Shivanand, a resident doctor in Government Medical College in Hubli said, "The Minister of panchayat raj and rural development, H.K.Patil stood for the resident doctors. His stand was that we serve in the rural areas and so we deserve the hike." 

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