Date:11/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/11/stories/2008051156850300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Delay in gazette notification irks government doctors

Staff Reporter

Naveen Patnaik yet to keep his word, they say

60th annual meet of OMSA to be held in Jeypore on May 19
A final decision will be taken on the future course of action at the meet

BHUBANESWAR: Members of the Orissa Medical Services Association (OMSA), who had threatened to resign en masse to ensure their demands fulfilled, appear to have become impatient again.

OMSA, the largest body of government doctors in the State, is contemplating on reviving its earlier threat of tendering mass resignation as assurances doled out by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the floor of the Assembly were not followed up by gazette notification.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, OMSA President Madhusudan Mishra said, “the Chief Minister had declared to fulfil a number of our demands in the State Assembly on March 17 last, but no follow up action was taken to bring out a notification. We are tired of approaching higher-ups in administration whereas no conclusive action was drawn.”

OMSA is going to hold its 60th annual conference and general body meeting at Jeypore in Koraput district on May 19 for taking stock of the present situation. A final decision will be taken on the future course of action at Jeypore.

Unique movement

“If the present impasse continues, our member will be forced to restart the unique movement in the history of services association in India – tendering mass resignation. So we appeal to everybody to show their prudence by notifying the declaration early and promulgate the ordinance for security quickly,” Dr. Mishra said.

Pay scale

In March, when the budget session of the State Assembly was going on, about 2,200 doctors had tendered resignation putting Naveen Patnaik led government on one-month notice.

Subsequently, the State government succumbed to pressure and declared that scale of pay for doctors joining Orissa Medical Services (OMS) cadre would be enhanced to Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 13,500 from the present level of Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 10,500. Doctors, who were designated as Class II at entry level, would be treated as Junior Class-1 officer, Mr. Patnaik had told the Assembly.

OMSA charged that some vested interest groups in the administration were working to scuttle promises given by the Chief Minister.

The association also made it clear that they would not agree if the State government again sent their salary revision matter to fitment committee, which was formed in the wake of Sixth Pay Commission recommendation.