Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 13: Post-graduate resident doctors at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, are suffering as the authorities have failed to release their stipends for the last several months.
A number of these doctors today staged a protest on the premises of the hospital, stating that they were earlier told that their pending stipends would be released in 15 days; however, despite assurances, they have received nothing.
“We remain here at the hospital round the clock. When the senior doctors leave in the evening, we stay here to attend to the patients. You can say that we are the main working force catering to patient care, but we have been left to suffer with our stipends pending for 7 months now,” said one of the PG residents, Dr. Tajdar from Bihar.
The doctors, nearly 35 in number, mentioned that while they are suffering, patient care is also taking a hit, as they have gone on strike. They emphasised that they have been left to run from pillar to post, making efforts to have their stipends released.
“We went on strike even in September; then we were told to wait 15 days, and after some time, the stipend for one month was released. It is happening again with us waiting for the release of our 7-month stipend,” they said, adding that no one from the authorities is bothered about them.
The aggrieved doctors, who are in Kashmir for their studies and attending to patients in the hospitals where they are doing their PGs, said that they are facing mental trauma due to their inability to fulfill their needs.
“We are living in rented accommodations; many are married, and we are in a state of debt becoming tough with every passing day as we are unable to repay it. Nothing seems to be going right here,” they said.
Dr. Nitin, hailing from Punjab and currently doing his PG at GMC Anantnag, said that he now feels that he has made a mistake by coming to Kashmir for studies.
“I think we have made a mistake coming here for PG. We have been struggling for the last 7 months. This is the height of affairs; we have come from different states, and we do not deserve to be treated like this,” he said.
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