Srinagar, Mar 19: The resident doctors of Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar on Tuesday threatened a protest over delays in payment of their monthly salary.
They said they brought the matter with the Chief Accounts Officer and Principal GMC Srinagar for a month regarding the timely disbursement of salaries for Senior Residents and stipends for Postgraduate residents but nothing has been done.
The Resident Doctors Association in a statement said over the past year, resident doctors at GMC Srinagar have encountered prolonged delays exceeding five months in salary payments.
“Despite diligent efforts to seek clarification on these delays, the administration attributes them to a purported shortage of funds stemming from the institution’s increased seat capacity. It is evident that proper allocation of resources should have been a priority under such circumstances,” the RDA said.
They said that financial strain caused by delayed disbursement of salaries has prompted residents, both local and non-local, to contemplate an institution-wide protest, accompanied by a three-day ultimatum for salary disbursement.
“The collective frustration among residents is palpable; notwithstanding their considerable work hours, they are subjected to delayed compensation for their rightful duties and a sense of marginalization. Repeated appeals to the PMC and CAO have yielded little beyond false assurances and promises,” the statement said.
Additionally, the RDA said outstanding arrears from the fiscal year 2023 remain unresolved for resident doctors, exacerbating the situation further.
Taking into consideration the escalating discontent and demoralization among the residents, they threatened that they will likely protest if their salary is not disbursed within the next three days.
“The potential disruption to regular duties by the residents staying back home could result in significant hardships to the institution and the patients in its care,” they added.
