The Ayurveda doctors of State health services undertook a peace march in the State Capital on Thursday. These doctors were prevented from proceeding further and stopped near State secretariat when they tried to march towards the residence of Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Under the banner of Provincial Ayurveda Medical Officers association, these medical practitioners assembled at protest site near the parade ground on the day. The state President of the association, Dr K S Napalchayal said that the Ayurveda doctors consider service of patients as their supreme duty due to which they have refrained from taking a step like work boycott. He said that the Ayurveda doctors are agitated due to continued neglect of their demands by the state government.
The doctors donning white waistcoats then proceeded with their march. They carried placards which mentioned their demands. The procession was non vociferous and the participants showed no resistance when the policemen stopped them near secretariat. In the March more than 200 doctors from various parts of the state participated.
Meanwhile the relay hunger strike of these doctors continued for third day at the state Ayush directorate.
The association is demanding implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) and Non Practice Pay (NPP) for Ayurveda doctors. The other demands of these doctors are restructuring of the cadre, departmental promotions, benefit of ACP, disbursal of Post Graduation allowance and authority to counter sign medical certificates. It is worth mentioning here that the allopathic and veterinary doctors of state heath services enjoy the benefit of DACP and NPP but the Ayurveda doctors are deprived of the benefit. These doctors claim that they see more patients then their allopath counterparts in the state as they are deployed in the remote and mountainous areas where no allopath practitioners prefer to be posted.