The doctors and staff members of North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Hindu Rao Hospital have decided to go on an indefinite strike from Monday onwards, due to their anger over the non-payment of salaries. However, emergency operations will operate smoothly.
The matter is being looked into, according to the civic body, the doctors and staff members of the NDMC’s Hindu Rao Hospital have not been paid since June. Last week, the employees of the Hospital were on a ‘Pen Down Strike’ from 9.a.m. to 12 p.m. to display their ordeal.
“We apologise to announce that we are forced to go for an indefinite agitation w.e.f. October 5, 2020, considering strictly ‘No pay, no work’ while operating the emergency services smoothly.” The Resident Doctor Association’s letter written to the Hospital Administration stated.
“The chronic sufferings of the staff have been too agonizing and intractable where it is distressing to one’s mental and physical well-being, we strongly plea to you for releasing 3 months’ pay and giving us an immediate permanent solution. We also demand a formal notice regarding the same.” It further told.
The Inconvenience brought to the patient be harboured by the administration. The RDA President Abhimanyu Sardana further added. The strike came a week after the association warned the Commissioner of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation of holding an indefinite protest if their salaries are not paid.
“It has been made clear that there is strict non-compliance in view of fulfilment of the basic rights of the Healthcare Staff and provision of basic pay to an individual appointed by the North MCD under the employment act,” the letter read.
The association had deeply regretted the situation despite the high court order and repetitive intimations in the past.
Besides Hindu Rao hospital, doctors and nurses of other hospitals like Kasturba Hospital, Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Disease, RajanBabu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, Girdhari Lal Maternity Hospital have also been protesting over the non-payment of salaries.
The act of withholding salaries of doctors and nurses engaged in the battle against COVID-19 an offence under the (DMA) disaster management act through an order. This was declared by the Union government in June.
“The Chief Secretary of the States/UTs should ensure compliance of this order by all concerned, violation of which will be treated as an offence under the Disaster Management Act read with the Indian Penal Code, and action is taken accordingly against defaulting hospitals/institutions/authorities.” Was stated in order from the Home Ministry
The Supreme Court asked the Centre to take off the COVID-19 warriors at the forefront of the country’s containment efforts and compared the current situation with “war” and medical workers as “soldiers”, who he told that shouldn’t be kept unhappy.
