Doctors in Manipur under the All Manipur Health Service Doctors Association on Wednesday organised a relay hunger strike across all districts in the state. The AMHSDA resolved to hold a relay hunger strike starting November 28 to December 2, 2022 across all districts of the state.
The doctors raised eight-point demand. The state government has accepted four, but has not worked out the other four points till now, they said. They are timebound promotion; enhancement of Superannuation age to 65 as in the case of JNIMS doctor; NPA Fixation with effect from January 1, 2016 as per the 7th Pay Commission and the implementation of proposed MHS Rule 2022 and Amendment.
AMHSDA general secretary Dr Lolee P Mao said the strike is being held following the apathy of the Manipur government. Regular and timebound promotion and pension benefit are important to them which also is their right as frontline workers, he said.
There are over 1,300 doctors in Manipur, and they must unite as one family and fight this injustice, Dr Lolee said, asserting that the government was trying to divide and silence them.
“We can't be termed illegal because we are not demanding a separate territory but our rights,” he said.
The relay hunger strike in Thoubal, Churachandpur, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Ukhrul and others districts was held peacefully with the doctors taking turns to do their normal duty, Dr Lolee P Mao said.
AMHSDA general secretary also said that if the government does not take heed to their demand, they will go ahead with mass casual leave and if the government still fails to respond, they will effect a mass resignation.
The relay hunger strike is the result of the failure of the state government in taking interest in the demands of the doctors of Manipur for the last two years, Dr Lolee added.