Rohit Shishodia
Doctors of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), who were showered with flowers and hailed as Covid warriors during the lockdown, have now made an appeal to the people of Delhi, Supreme Court, media and central and state government authorities to help them in getting their three-months' pending salaries and pension pending for six months to their colleagues who have retired.

Presently, the doctors are on strike and have stopped working in all units of NDMC Hospitals. The doctors have also apologised to patients who faced difficulties in hospitals due to strike.

They have informed that the doctors, who have retired from the corporation, have not got pension since May 2020 and those who retired in the last 2 years have not been paid their retirement dues.

“For release of salary, the staff has had to go on strike very few months, leading to demoralization of the staff and affecting health services to poor and vulnerable population. These problems have now got escalated in last six months due to apathy and lack of action on the part of administration,” reads a press release issued by the Municipal Corporation Doctor’s Association (MCDA).  

“All staff including doctors has been requesting the administration for a permanent solution since last over 5 years. The administration, in spite of promises, has not been able to address the issue. At the current time, in spite of repeated requests, no solution has been provided to us, therefore, forcing us to go on indefinite strike from October 27, 2020,” stated MCDA.

“It is also pertinent to note that Supreme Court in June 2020 ordered Government of India to direct all states and union territories to ensure that salaries of doctors and health workers during Covid shall be released on time. The same was endorsed by government of India in it's June 18, 2020, order. However, the same has not been complied with,” added MCDA.

“We, therefore, appeal to citizens of Delhi, all government authorities including central and state government and media to help us in our efforts to get our salary, arrears and other dues for the services already rendered. We would also like to issue an appeal to Supreme Court to take cognizance of our suffering, anguish, and agony and help us resolve this issue at the earliest,” said MCDA.

According to MCDA, Mayor of NDMC proposed the immediate release of one month salary and one more month's within next 15 days which has been rejected by the General Body Meeting of doctors.

The doctors have demanded all pending salaries and dues immediately along with permanent solution to the problem. The IMA representative told the GBM that a PIL has been filed in Delhi High Court over nonpayment of salaries of doctors.