Junior doctors threaten strike from May 27 in Andhra Pradesh
The junior doctors asked state government to hike the stipend of senior residents to Rs. 80,000 without further delay
VIJAYAWADA: Junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh have threatened to boycott all their duties in medical colleges of the state if AP government fails to fulfil their demands by May 27. These demands include recognising them as senior residents and hike in their stipend.
In a letter to director of medical education on Monday, Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors’ Association (APJUDA) wanted all final year postgraduate medical students of both government and private colleges to be considered as senior residents. The association pointed out that some of these students are even performing duties in Coronavirus wards.
As such, the junior doctors asked state government to hike the stipend of senior residents to Rs. 80,000 without further delay, pointing out that this demand has been pending since January 2020.
APJUDA president Dr. Rahul Roy said, “In case there is no response from the state government, we may be forced to act against our will and boycott all duties in medical colleges of the state from May 27.”
Teachers want immediate vaccination
Meanwhile, SC and ST Teachers’ Association of Andhra Pradesh has asked the state government to vaccinate all teachers before asking them to resume full-time duties when Coronavirus is at its peak. The association demanded that compensation be paid to kin of all teachers who have succumbed to Covid-19.
Association president Samala Simhachalam and general secretary Mekala Sivarjuna organised a virtual meeting, where the former pointed out that several teachers have died due to the Coronavirus infection. While families of such teachers must be compensated, all other teachers should be vaccinated against Covid-19 before being asked to report on duty.
Simhachalam demanded PRC with 50 percent fitment and cash free treatment for teachers at Covid hospitals.
He also appealed to the government that it implement Amma Vodi scheme for all eligible students of the state.
Earlier, the executive body thanked Vizianagaram collector Dr. M. Hari Jawahar Lal for quickly responding to their request for vaccinating teachers. Simhachalam appealed to all other collectors to take similar steps in consultation with the government.