The relay hunger strike by the Ayurveda doctors of State health services continued on Wednesday. The Provincial Ayurveda Medical Officers association, the association of Ayurveda doctors, has decided to undertake the Chief Minister's residence march on Thursday to press for their demands.
The convener of the association, Dr JN Nautiyal told The Pioneer that the members of the association would organise the CM's residence march on Thursday. He claimed that Ayurveda doctors from all parts of the state would attend the march.
Meanwhile the relay hunger strike by the members of the association continued at Ayush directorate for second consecutive day on Wednesday.
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.
These doctors are perturbed by the fact that the allopathic doctors and the veterinary doctors are getting the benefit of DACP and NPP while they are denied these benefits. They contend since that the Ayurveda doctors of central health services and that of many State Governments enjoy the above mentioned benefits, the Uttarakhand Government should also extend similar benefits to them as well.
These doctors are agitated at the fact that the State Government is failing to heed their demands despite of the fact that the association has met the state chief minister and health minister many times in past on the issue. They claim that health centres in the remote and mountainous areas of the state are being manned mostly by the Ayurveda doctors so the Government should understand the problems of these doctors.