Odisha RBSK AYUSH Doctors launch protest, demand job regularisation

The State RBSK AYUSH Doctors’ Association, Odisha on Sunday launched a protest wearing black badges at work to press for their demand for regularisation of jobs. They will continue their protest till February 19. 

The agitating doctors warned that they will resort to strike at Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar for an indefinite period if their demand is not met by February 19. 

According to the agitating RBSK AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) doctors, the service they are providing is in no way inferior to the service provided by MBBS doctors. 

Like MBBS doctors, as many as 1,272 RBSK AYUSH doctors are providing their service to patients in rural as well as urban areas. 

But they alleged the State government is treating them stepmotherly. 

The association alleged their salary is far less than their MBBS counterparts and for this, the government is coming up with the plea that the Centre has stopped the assistance. 

“We have been taking up our issue with the Health department but to no avail. The doctors will continue working with black badges till February 19. On February 20, we will congregate at Lower PMG and from there we will go to meet the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and the Health Secretary. The State government will be responsible for whatever happens on that day,” said Prabhat Mohanty, President, State RBSK AYUSH Doctors’ Association.

(Reported by Kapilendra Pradhan, OTV)