Talks between protesting Himachal doctors, CM Jai Ram Thakur today

Shimla, February 17

The government has called protesting doctors for discussion on their demands on Friday. “We will meet the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary tomorrow. Hopefully, the government will accept our demands,” said Dr Pushpender Verma, secretary Himachal Medical Officers Association.

Another contentious issue that could get resolved tomorrow is that of the 108/102 ambulance staff. Around 200 staff of the 108/102 Contract Workers Union has not been absorbed by the company that will operate the ambulance services in the state. “There’s a meeting tomorrow with NHM MD and the representatives of the company to see how the left-out employees can be absorbed,” said Vijender Mehra, state CITU president. The doctors have been observing pen down strike for two hours every day for the last one week across the state.

They have been demanding that the Punjab pay scale be implemented in totality, the non-practising allowance (NPA) should be paid at 25 per cent of the basic pay, and the basic pay plus NPA should be capped at Rs 2,37,600 on the Punjab pattern.

Initially, the doctors had threatened to start a full-fledged strike if their demands were not accepted. The meeting tomorrow will decide which direction the protest will take. — TNS

Demands genuine

We are not asking anything over and above what’s recommended in the Punjab Pay Commission. Our demands are genuine. — Dr Pushpender Verma, Himachal Medical Officers Association secy

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