The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Doctors reject pay package

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Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Doctors reject pay package

Threaten to relaunch agitation

Say government did not implement the offer of special pay as agreed by the Chief Minister
Court asks Advocate-General to inform it about the government stand

Kochi: The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) on Monday told a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court that the pay package offered by the State government was not acceptable to it.

It was submitted before the court when a writ petition challenging the doctors’ strike came up before the Bench comprising Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice K.M. Joseph.

The strike had been temporarily withdrawn later. When the petition was taken up, Supreme Court lawyer K. Radhakrishnan appearing for the KGMO submitted that the association wanted the special allowances to be merged with their basic pay and uniform allowance for all the doctors.

He contended that the government had not implemented the offer of special pay as agreed by the Chief Minister who held a meeting with the association on December 8.

Association demand

He said the association demanded an increase of 30 per cent in the basic pay for assistant surgeon, 25 per cent for civil surgeon and 20 per cent for deputy director, Additional Director and Director of Health Services.

He also indicated that the doctors would re-launch their agitation if the government did not concede their demands.

However, he submitted that the doctors would not start their agitation till January 24.

The court asked the Advocate-General to inform the court about the government stand on the demands of the doctors.

Advocate-General C.P. Sudhakaraprasad said the demand for a uniform allowance could not be acceded to.

Special hike

He submitted that the doctors were reluctant to work in rural areas.

A special hike in the allowances for the doctors serving in rural areas was effected for encouraging them to work in such areas.

In an affidavit, the government said that if the doctors’ demands were accepted, the total emoluments for an entry cadre of assistant surgeon would be very high.

If the pay package offered by the government was accepted, there would be an increase of Rs.3,000 to Rs.5,000 per month for doctors serving in rural areas and Rs.2,000-4,000 for doctors in urban areas.

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