More than 1,000 dentists who have completed their course in the Bachelor in Dental Science (BDS) from the Government and private colleges are moving jobless for years. However, the State Government has never taken the issues pertaining to the dentists.
The dentists are on war-path seeking justice from the Government. Since, they do not have any employment opportunity even after completing the course of BDS by spending lakhs of rupees, they are forced either to join private colleges as lecturer on mere salary of Rs 5,000 or open up a private clinic. Financial conditions not being the same, it is not possible to run a private clinic by everyone.
Dr Vinod Parmar, a member of the Unemployed Dental Association, said that about 1,000 dentists have passed every year but there was no job for them. He claimed that more than 100 posts are lying vacant in different hospitals of Madhya Pradesh but the State Government was not at all concerned about the problem. He stated that the unemployed dentists would soon launch a fresh agitation seeking justice.
Expressing concerns over the dental health of the people, he said that people are suffering from various dental problems as there was no early intervention. As per NRHM guidelines, under the National Child Health Care Programme, jobs need to be created at the community level with salary of Rs 30,000. “If the State Government is not following the NRHM guidelines, where the Government is utilising this fund,” he asked.
Despite having submitted memorandums with Health Commissioner, Director of NRHM, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, no action has been taken till date, he lamented.
“Now, we are left with no other option, but to get on roads. Health Minister Narottam Mishra had assured allocation of posts within a month, but by then model code of conduct before Assembly elections will be imposed and thus the matter will be delayed,” he said, adding that they were not going to stop protesting till the matter is resolved.