Docs defy ESMA threat; launch ‘satyagraha’

OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 28:

Unfazed by the threat of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) invoked by the state government, over 2000 government doctors, under the banner of Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), on Monday began a statewide satyagraha supported by over 1000 junior doctors, 500 house surgeons and 1800 medicos of three government-run medical colleges and hospital.

Talking to OST, former OMSA president Dr Madhusudan Mishra and secretary Dr Kishore Mishra said there has been no ceasework by the doctors in all sub-divisional headquarters hospitals and they are on duty.

They said the doctors are staging silent protest wearing Gandhi caps and black badges to register their protest against the injustices meted out to them by the state government only after their duty hours.

They also informed that the government refused the Association permission to stage dharna near the PMG Square.

The Association would continue the satyagraha till the government fulfils their demands, they said.

The demands of the Association include implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) for the cadre doctors, transparent transfer policy and equality in service conditions.

On the other hand, the state government appear unmoved by the OMSA satyagraha for the simple reason that the protest action has had minimal effect on the health services.

There has been no attempt by the Health department to have a meeting with the striking doctors till now, sources said.