Berhampur: Known for his out-of-the box tricks to enforce discipline on the campus, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) director, Ashwini Pujari is facing the music again. This time Pujari has drawn the ire of the junior doctors’ association (JDA) which has demanded his removal.
The JDA in a 10-point charter of demands to Odisha Health Minister has urged the government to take action against Pujari within 48 hours.
It is pertinent to mention here that the JDA and Pujari are at loggerheads after the latter took a professor to task inside a classroom, a video of which has now gone viral. Reportedly, Pujari lambasted the professor for coming 10 minutes late and taking classes of all PG students simultaneously in one class.
Apart from the video, Pujari’s move to shave the head of an alcoholic patient at the outpatient department has also elicited sharp criticism.
“We have submitted our demands before the health minister and we will resort to cease work agitation but will continue to do emergency duty in casualty and other departments in the larger interest of the patients coming to the hospital. However, we will completely stop work if no action is taken against the director within 48 hours,” said JDA president, Debabrat Ray.
As per the JDA memorandum, the VIMSAR director has been accused of regularly harassing and humiliating poor patients and carrying out unwarranted and unapproved experimental surgeries on poor and destitute patients who cannot protest.
The JDA has also alleged that Pujari is threatening UG and PG students to ruin their careers by implicating them in false cases.
The VIMSAR director, on the other hand refuted the allegations levelled by the JDA.
“It is the same group that had earlier conspired against me but failed. Such allegations are being levelled by some groups who fear of failing in the PG exams if it is conducted at VIMSAR instead of Sambalpur University,” said Pujari.