Pen-down strike by Tanda docs

Kangra, February 12

Resident doctors of Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) at Tanda went on a one-and-a-half-hour pen-down strike against the state government on Tuesday, demanding abolition of the bank guarantee required to pursue higher medical courses.

They observed the strike in the morning and urged the government to abolish the bank guarantee rule soon.

Dr Harshvardhan Singh, senior press secretary of the Resident Doctor Association, DRPGMC, Tanda, said the government had slashed half of the bond money, required for pursuing higher medical courses, to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 10 lakh, but doctors were demanding its abolition.

Due to the strike, there were very few doctors in the OPD and the patients had to face difficulties and wait for long.

Amit Rana, president of the Resident Doctors’ Association, Tanda, said, “After wearing black ribbons for one week on the lines of medical college, Shimla, against this bank guarantee, we have started two-hour pen-down strike from today.” “We are demanding that the government should abolish the bank guarantee and release our stipend of last three months. If our demands are not met, the resident doctors of the state will go on strike,” he said. —OC