Doctors protest Punjab Govt’s 6th Pay Commission

Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 23

Hundreds of doctors from across the state held a protest dharna against the 6th Pay Commission notified by the Punjab Government, here today.

Protesters march towards CM’s house

Later, the protesters started marching towards the Chief Minister’s house in Chandigarh after breaking the barricades installed by the police outside the hospital complex. Meanwhile, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu reached the protest site and received a memorandum on behalf of the Punjab Government.

The protesters included veterinary, dental rural medical officers, ayurvedic and homeopathic practitioners, besides officials of the Health Department.

Doctors from every district of Punjab wearing aprons raised slogans against the state government.

The protest was led by president of the PCMSA Dr Gagandeep Singh, president of the Veterinary Officers Association Dr Sarabjit Singh Randhawa, president of the Dental Association Dr Pawanpreet Kaur and president of the Ayurvedic Association Dr Sanjeev Pathak.

Dr Inderveer Singh Gill, convener, Coordination Committee, and Dr Manohar Singh, general secretary, PCMS Association, said the doctors’ strike was to save the public healthcare and veterinary healthcare system.

They said the Coordination Committee strongly opposes the ongoing privatisation policy under which the 6th Pay Commission has slashed the non-practicing allowance being paid to the doctors.

Later, the protesters started marching towards the Chief Minister’s house in Chandigarh after breaking the barricades installed by the police outside the hospital complex. Meanwhile, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu reached the protest site and received a memorandum on behalf of the Punjab Government.

Sidhu assured the protesters that their demand regarding non-practicing allowance would definitely be met within a week’s time.

After the assurance given by the minister, the leaders of the Coordination Committee agreed to suspend the agitation for a week.

The committee though said their struggle would continue until a final solution is reached.

They said the roadmap of the struggle would be decided during a virtual meeting of the committee tomorrow.

President of the Homeopathic Association Dr Balwinder Singh, president of the Rural Medical Officers Association Dr Jagjit Singh Bajwa, and Dr Darshan Kheri, general secretary, Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association, also addressed the protesting doctors.

CM shown black flags

The ETT and TET pass teachers protesting at the PSEB building in Phase-7 here tried to stop the carcade of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at the Airport road when he was going to attend the installation ceremony of the PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. A group of teachers carrying black flags tried to stop the CM’s convoy but the police thwarted their attempt. A few protesting teachers were detained and they were not released till late evening. Various temporary teachers’ union members have been protesting for more than a month outside the PSEB building demanding regularisation of their service and enhancement in their salary. TNS