Educated and non-partisan group had always been a plank in the eye of the communists. In communist Kerala the one who has suffered this wrath most were the doctors especially government doctors. The recent protests by the government doctors for a judicious rise in the wages have been termed as an anti-government and anti-people protest.
If doctors strike, it’s going to affect the people directly. So they had been quenching this bitter juice for some time. But the limit has reached as the many promises by the government had not bear fruits. Even if the strike does not affect the common people directly it is termed as a non-humanitarian act against the most humanitarian government.
The salary hike was recommended by the revision committee and promised by the government many a times. But since the doctors could not go in to the extreme stance, the govt. thought it can be well delayed. The present wages of government doctors does not even stand with those of teachers, secretariat or KSEB employees considering the service. After 5 ½ (actually 6) years of study, 1 year hospital service and 1 year rural service with minimum stipend, they are labelling doctors not service minded. These wages are one of the lowest in the country, and during the study time itself they are treated as bonded labourers due to lack of people joining government services because of this non attractive salary regime. If the doctors are not protesting now, there would be no revision and the condition of government hospitals would be pathetic without even one doctor for thousand patients. The way out is not compelling the students to perform service but to act with minimum humanitarian concern.
The doctors are ready to stop the private practice, if the government is ready to revise the salary moderately. At present few hundred doctors have given their resignation and voluntary retirement requests. If it is accepted the government would go into a crisis situation.
The teachers and secretariat employees union ridiculing the protests is extremely shameful. The same people were having a 1 month long strike even weighing the future of students by delaying the board exams. No one actually has the right to ridicule the protests.
The work load in the hospital is taking a great toll on the life of doctors who have lower life expectancy in the state. And in order to lead a life like the fellow doctors in private hospitals they have to extra work at home even till late night. They have to work in the pathetic conditions of the government hospitals and report to extra duties like escorting VIP’s and immunisation centres frequently. Still there was no complaint from them which the government took as granted.
The teachers and secretariat employees union ridiculing the protests is extremely shameful. The same people were having a 1 month long strike even weighing the future of students by delaying the board exams. No one actually has the right to ridicule the protests.
The work load in the hospital is taking a great toll on the life of doctors who have lower life expectancy in the state. And in order to lead a life like the fellow doctors in private hospitals they have to extra work at home even till late night. They have to work in the pathetic conditions of the government hospitals and report to extra duties like escorting VIP’s and immunisation centres frequently. Still there was no complaint from them which the government took as granted.
The situation has to change and juggling the life of doctors is derogatory. The reason that others will also ask for salary revision is irony, when they are giving hike for those employees having partisan unions and political framework.
