From Friday evening, the resident doctors of Hindu Rao Hospital, which is run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC), started their indefinite hunger strike as the authorities have failed to confirm their timely release of pending salaries.

Dr Abhimanyu Sardana, who is President of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), Hindu Rao Hospital and North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College, said that five of their doctors are observing a hunger strike at the hospital on the main gate. The agitation will continue till their demands are met and salaries are being cleared.

The association earlier had written to the medical superintendent of Hindu Rao Hospital and the authorities saying that they might go on an indefinite hunger strike from 4 pm on Friday if their demands were not met.

The doctors are protesting for several weeks for the release of their salary for the last 3 months. Neel Chakra Sahu, one of the 5 doctors who was also sitting on the hunger strike, said that they don’t want verbal assurances but need concrete actions. They have no other option but to go on a hunger strike.

On Thursday, doctors of the Rajen Babu Tuberculosis Hospital and North Municipal Corporation-run Kasturba Hospital are also protesting over non-payment of their salary. Shouting slogans and sporting black armbands, several resident doctors of the three hospitals had held a joint protest at Jantar Mantar.

The protesters had sought the involvement of higher authorities for the resolution of this crisis stating that they are tired of raising this issue but have no option but to ask for their demands.

Mayor Jai Prakash of North Delhi said that assurance has been given to the RDA members that the issue will be resolved by Saturday.

Source: The New Indian Express