BS RAWAT
Doctors in Himachal Pradesh wore black badges to work on August 4 in a symbolic protest against deduction in grade pay of contractual medical officers.

On a call by Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association, doctors in several hospitals across the state were seen wearing black badges in ICUs, emergency block, wards and operation theatres.

The protesting doctors who are at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus said that they were receiving a deducted pay, so they started black badges protest.

It is noted that protesting young doctors in the state were receiving 150 per cent of the grade pay until the start of this year. In January, it was withdrawn by the state government without citing any clear reason.

The protesting doctors have received support letters from various medical colleges across the state and are going for a pen down strike for a week from August 9.