- Resident Doctors Association of Kasturba Hospital went on strike from October 14
- Doctors have not received salaries from North Delhi Municipal Corporation since July’20
- The medical staff has threatened to resign if salaries are not disbursed.
THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: On October 14, the Resident Doctors Association of Kasturba Hospital, in protest of the non-payment of salaries, went on a week-long strike. The disgruntled medical staff of Kasturba Hospital is dissenting against the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for not releasing their salaries since July 2020. Discontented with the corporation’s lackadaisical approach, the doctors threatened to resign if the salaries are not disbursed with immediate effect.
The RDA President Sunil Prasad expressing his displeasure in a letter to the Medical Superintendent wrote,
“We work, and salary is our basic right. I also request the government to bring in the salary protection act.”
The doctors were especially unhappy with the fact that crores of rupees, which could have been used for paying off salaries, were misdirected towards organizing star-studded events for “corona warriors.”
The association further added, “We would like to inform you that we will be on strike for the next 7 days or till all the salaries will be credited. After 20.02.2020, all residents will give mass resignation. Kindly take this letter under consideration since tomorrow onwards, all the emergency services will be stopped.”
Doctors of another NDMC-run hospital, Hindu Rao are on strike since October 11, expressing discontentment at the administration’s failure in releasing their salaries by the due date. The situation has become worse due to the economic challenges posed by the pandemic. However, as Dr. Kumar noted, the salaries of doctors are encountering irregularities for the last four years.
The medical and paramedic staff risking the possibility of catching the fatal infection are working on the frontline since the Coronavirus wave hit India in March. In such grave circumstances, it is the government’s chief imperative to ensure that the “corona warriors” receive their salaries. Encouraging citizens to respect the frontline health workers is appreciable on the part of the government, but it also needs to secure their means of survival. As suggested by the RDA President, the Centre or Delhi government must act responsibly by assuming the charge if the MCD finds itself incapable of paying off the salaries.
