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Monday, May 19, 2008
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National

Pay panel report: physiotherapists unhappy

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Indian Association of Physiotherapists has expressed shock over the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations that places them in group ‘C’ and a lower pay band. This is nothing less than “professional genocide” of physiotherapists in the country, the association said.

Graduate and post-graduate physiotherapists are demanding to be placed in Group ‘A’ entry scale with four Dynamic Assured Career Progression and residentship in the course.

The post of physiotherapist in the pre-revised pay scale of Rs. 5500-175-9000 in Group ‘B’ has been clubbed with the pay scale of Rs. 5,000-150-8,000 in Group ‘C’ and placed in the pay band 2 of Rs. 8,700-34,800 with a grade pay of Rs. 4,200.

Until the Third Pay Commission, physiotherapists were placed almost on par with veterinary officers.

However, despite assurances by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the Fourth Pay Commission has ignored them. They were merely given replacement pay scale of Rs. 455-700 to Rs.1,400-2300 at the induction level while others, including veterinary officers got Rs. 2,000-3,200.

In the Fifth Commission, the pay scale of physiotherapists was marginally upgraded while veterinary officers got a much higher jump. It had been suggested that physiotherapists be brought on par with dentists.

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